Hi everyone! I want to clarify something I said in yesterday's update. When I mentioned that Mayor Kevin Sartor might be using DHS talking points in his recent interviews, I was raising a concern and asking questions, not stating a fact. I have no idea if he is or not and I want to be really clear about that.

What I do know is this: there is no safety plan for the students who will have to go past this ICE detention center just to get to school.

That is why I'm calling on all of our elected leaders from Senator Mark Kelly, Senator Ruben Gallego, Rep. Paul Gosar to set aside whatever political differences they have and do right by the students. Not just the students at Dysart High School, but everywhere across the country. Please work together and introduce my 3-mile safety buffer zone proposal. Making sure kids can get to school safely should never be a partisan, political issue. It shouldn't even be up for debate.

My proposal isn't a Democrat or Republican thing. It's the RIGHT thing. It's a reasonable, common sense solution that everyone from both parties should be able to agree on. No student should have to navigate around a federal jail with nonstop heavy traffic, protestors, media presence, and people with bad intentions. No kid should have to switch to online classes because they're terrified of getting racially profiled while walking to school. This is not okay. If our senators and representatives wouldn't want this near THEIR kids school then it shouldn't be near OUR school either.

This entire process hasn't been easy. I've had moments of real hope and moments that have just been absolutely exhausting and frustrating. But I'm not stopping until Congress passes my 3-mile buffer zone proposal.

Thank you.

Sincerely,

Cali Overs
Student Body Vice President
Dysart High School