Students Protest Change to Mexican-American Studies Class in Arizona

A group of rowdy students took over a Tucson school board meeting Tuesday night, chaining themselves together to protest a change to a Mexican-American studies class, MyFoxPhoenix.com reported.

The governing board of the Tucson Unified School District was supposed to consider a plan that would make a class teaching history from a Mexican-American perspective an elective, instead of a required course.

A state law passed in December essentially discourages the classes, saying that they segregate students.

Students against the change forced themselves into the already full room, chanting “fight back,” forcing officials to cancel the meeting.

TUSD Superintendent John Pedicone says the board couldn't conduct business under the conditions that developed minutes before the school board was to begin its meeting Tuesday night.

Security was called to remove the protesters, but many of the students had apparently chained themselves together.

The Arizona Daily Star says the protestors demanded the resolution to make certain Mexican American Studies electives be withdrawn.

Pedicone says the meeting will be rescheduled at a larger venue with the same agenda.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.

See footage of the chaotic meeting at MyFoxPhoenix.com.