Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent LAUSD
There are clouds over Los Angeles this morning. Those great clouds could mean a lot of things to a lot of people. I interpret them as clouds of injustice, clouds of fear, of intimidation, clouds that seek to scare the best of us into dark corners, that for decades we promised ourselves and the rest of our nation, we would abandon and prevent those who experienced the most fragile of conditions from ever descending into those places. We are one. At Los Angeles Unified, we have a commitment to protect the rights, the opportunities for every single child, every one of our workforce members and the families we serve. No questions asked. We do so with courageous determination and for those who doubt it, despite the insinuations or accusations, we stand strongly on the right side of law.
We are upholding the law. Every student in our community, every student across the country has a constitutional right to a free public education of high quality without threat. Every one of our students, independent of their immigration status, has a right to a free meal in our schools. Every one of our children, no questions asked, has a right to counseling, social, emotional support, mental support in addition to great education. Our schools are safe places. Our schools are places of education and inspiration, not fear and intimidation. Many of us here are immigrants or children of immigrants. We would be hypocrites if we took a step backwards from the position of protecting those who today face what our parents or ourselves faced years ago. So for us, we embrace and embody this position on the basis of both a moral and professional responsibility to educate, to protect, to inspire our kids and our families.
As I’m addressing you, there are two schools in our community that within a couple blocks we see federal vans parked. No action has been taken, but we interpret those actions as actions of intimidation, instilling fear that may lead to self deportation. That is not the community we want to be. That is not the state or the nation that we ought to be. In fact, if those who believe that that is the nation we should become, let’s rearrange Lady Liberty. Let’s bring that arm down and extinguish that flame for we’re no longer the light for the world.
I am proud to reside in LA. I am proud to call this city my city. I am proud of the fact that this board stands United and unified alongside community partners and elected officials. In saying not on our watch. Not on our watch shall people trample over children’s rights. Not on our watch shall people be intimidated? Not on our watch shall we succumb to unreasonable pressures. For us to do that which is not human or humane or humanitarian.
Not on our watch shall people trample over children’s rights.
I’m one who believes that as an educator of many decades, we know and understand that public education democracy are two sides of the same. American coin. Undermine one, the other will suffer. That is what’s at stake. We will not waiver from our responsibility of protecting kids. Well, let me take a quick break to let you know who’s with us today, but I wanted to declare upfront what we stand for, the values and principles that guide our work, because none of us disagree over that. I also want to assert that there are many other people we’d like to be here today, and I’d like to mention that our labor leaders, UTLA and SEIU 99 were invited. They would’ve been here, but they’re preparing for another event right around the corner.
We appreciate their solidarity with us during these trying times. We have with us today our board President Scott Schmererelson , our board Vice President, Rocio Rivas school board member, Mr. Nick Melvoin, school board member, Ms. Karla Griego, school board member, Ms.Kelly Gonez and school board member Ms. Tanya Ortiz Franklin will be joined a little bit by school board member Sherlett Newbill. We have LA County supervisor Hilda Solis. We have community partners who do incredible work every single day, whether as in providing assistance, counseling or pro bono legal support for children and their families. We have CHIRLA here with us today, Miriam Mesa. We have public counsel with a number of qualified individuals who stand in the protection of the legal rights of our students.
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The above is a verbatim transcription of an address to Los Angeles news media delivered by Dr. Alberto Carvahol, President of the Los Angeles Unified School District on June 9. 2025. It is uploaded on Latinopia under the fair use proviso of the copyright law.