(March 31, 2006)—As students throughout the state continue to walk out of class to rally in support of immigrant rights, Belton High School students will stage a protest Friday with the blessing of school officials.

Students at the school will be allowed out of class at 3:10 p.m. Friday for the rally at Tiger Stadium.

“Teachers and students will discuss current issues regarding immigration, and constructive ways to make their voices heard,” said Belton High School Principal Bill Lawson.

“We want students to know that we value their concerns and we trust that they will conduct themselves in a respectful and positive manner,” he said.

Elsewhere in Texas, Friday, about 100 students walked out of classes at a suburban Fort Worth high school for a 10-mile march to downtown Fort Worth.

They walked out of Haltom High School in Haltom City Friday morning to protest a proposed congressional crackdown on illegal immigrants.

It's just one of several such demonstrations happening at Texas schools Friday and the latest of numerous walkouts at schools across Texas and the nation this week, including one earlier this week in Temple.

About 100 students walked out of John Tyler High School in Tyler Friday and walked a few miles to the Smith County Courthouse Square downtown.

There, they chanted "America! America!" and waved Mexican flags.

The walkouts coincide with the start of debate this week in the U.S. Senate on a sweeping immigration reform bill.