A peaceful, student-led walkout against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and President Donald Trump brought together students from M-A and other local schools on Tuesday morning.
Members of the M-A Students Against Violence Everywhere (SAVE) Promise Club organized the walkout following ICE arrests in San Mateo County, which have increased this past week.
Students left school at 10:30 a.m., marching four miles north along Middlefield Avenue to the Redwood City courthouse. There, the protest continued for an hour, with fervent chants, enthusiastic cheers, and exuberant dances hyping up the atmosphere. Students eventually dispersed at around 12:50 p.m.
The walkout featured a variety of slogans, all of which the students passionately shouted. Some were directed against Trump—“Trump’s a felon” and “Hee hee, ho ho, Donald Trump has got to go.” Others were aimed against ICE—“No justice, no peace, ‘til ICE is off our streets.”
Many chants also focused on justice and unity—“What do we want? Justice. When do we want it? Now,” “This is what democracy looks like,” “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here,” “Say it loud, say it clear, immigrants are welcome here,” “La gente unida jamás será vencida” and its English counterpart—“The people united will never be defeated.”
Many protesters expressed their frustration toward ICE, citing various concerns because of the federal agency’s recent detainments, especially regarding their family members’ safety.
“It’s sad to see all the other injustices that have been happening towards immigrants, especially since immigrants are kind of the backbone of this country,” senior Salatiel Acosta Veja said. “As a son of immigrants, I feel like it’s my job to defend them when they can’t because of the dangers of ICE.”
“I’ve seen ICE tear away kids from their families. I’ve seen that people are getting killed. Natural citizens are being taken away, and citizens are dying for no reason when it’s supposed to be peaceful,” senior Nephertytie Gutierrez, one of the organizers of the walkout, said. “They are taking them away based on their skin color, how they look, how they have an accent.”
“A couple of my family members have been affected by [ICE]. They’re scared to go outside. They aren’t allowed to do anything in this place. It sucks. They really feel like it’s just segregation again,” sophomore Jose Valenzuela said.
“I hate ICE down to my deepest bones. It’s the worst thing to ever come to this place,” Valenzuela said. “Families that come here illegally, they need a second chance. Isn’t that what immigration is about?”
“Half of my family is Mexican, and ICE being here really makes me worry about them. So I’d rather try to protest and make it known that we don’t want ICE here, and do what I can to try and keep my family safe,” senior Jazmin Lombera said.
Students also expressed their goals for the walkout and hopes for the future.
“I hope this lets the community know that we’re here supporting them. We’re 10 toes behind them. We’re standing with them, and we hope that they know they’re not alone, and that if they need support from our community, to come and talk to us,” Gutierrez said. “It shows that students as young as 13 years old, from middle schools to high schools, we’re walking out, showing our support. We’re skipping our school’s lessons to come and teach the community one, and to let them know that they’re not alone.”
“Silence is not the answer when people’s rights and dignity are at stake,” sophomore and walkout organizer Dylan Martinez said. “Your age doesn’t determine whether your voice matters. Whether you’re a student, a parent, or a member of your community, you have the ability to create change. We shouldn’t have to wait until something affects us personally to stand up for others. At the end of the day, we’re all human beings, and everyone deserves to be treated with dignity.”
Students shared what they hope the walkout will accomplish. “I hope this walkout today shows that we won’t back down. We are high schoolers, but we still have a voice, and we’re willing to use it to make a change,” Acosta said.
“It’s time we be more grateful for what immigrants actually do for us,” Mid-Peninsula High School junior Michelle Hall said. “I’m hoping that [the walkout will] help people understand and realize [that].”
“Students from around the country do care. We do participate. We genuinely want change, and we’re willing to make it happen,” senior Alma Dunlap-Worthey said.
Passersby and community members showed their support for the movement during the walkout. Drivers expressed their encouragement via honks, shouts, and rap music. Others provided drinks and snacks to the protesting students. Redwood City workers and business owners demonstrated similar sentiments by stepping out of their stores to cheer for the cause.
“I’m all for it. I think the young people are the cutting edge. They’re the ones that are going to make the difference. We’ve all got to get on board,” community member Becky Thatcher said. “The youth are the hope for today, and we have to get involved. Keep on trucking. Keep on going. Don’t give up.”
“This walkout shows how united people can stand against corrupt power. The screaming, the cars, the emotions you can feel,” freshman Adrian Fernandez said.
“The most memorable part is definitely walking down Middlefield, hearing everybody honk in support, people yelling, people shouting, all the signs,” junior Ben Eames said. “It’s like the more support that we have, I feel like the more likely we are to accomplish this.”
“At the end of the day, we are a f*cking community, and I feel like a lot of people forget that,” senior Tyrese Clewies said.
For these students, walking out represents a duty to stand by their beliefs. “Everybody needs to take a stand against ICE,” Clewies said. “Don’t be scared to speak up and do not be scared to try and make a change.”
“There’s so much hate in the world, and at least we can have one thing that brings all of us together,” Acosta said. “Never back down. Never lower your voice for somebody trying to silence you.”
