Hundreds of students from M-A and neighboring schools peacefully took to the streets as part of a nationwide walkout against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and President Donald Trump.
The nationwide movement first gained traction on social media earlier this week, following the killings of two protestors in Minneapolis. The protest also advocated for halting labor and purchases to stall the economy ahead of a congressional spending package that would influence federal funding for ICE.
The walkout, which began at 10:25 a.m., took place along Middlefield Road and concluded four miles north at the San Mateo County courthouse in downtown Redwood City. Students left school peacefully, without any intervention from teachers or administrators.
Many students explained that their decision to walk out was personal, as they themselves had encountered ICE. “ICE came over near my house and they tried to take a couple of my neighbors away. We were there, and we were telling them to stop and that it’s not okay and [ICE] threatened to take us all with them,” freshman Lexi, who did not provide her last name, said.
“I had ICE drive by elementary schools near my sisters’ schools, and I just saw them getting out of the cars and stuff, trying to talk to teachers,” freshman Melanie Cortez said.
Other students were concerned about how ICE’s presence in the Bay Area could impact immigrant family members. “Just the thought of [my parents] getting hated on, or them being in fear outside, or getting killed and I might not know of it, is very upsetting. So yeah, I will always be here, I will stay fighting,” senior JJ Balderas said.
As students approached the intersection of Glenwood Avenue and Middlefield Road, they were joined by 19 students from nearby private high school Menlo School. Two Menlo students, senior Cindy Cruz and freshman Obasi Winn, had heard about the walkout from friends and joined without pushback from Menlo’s administration.
“We’re kids. We’re out here doing what we think is right. We’re trying to advocate. We’re just trying to use what the system has provided for us, and we’re trying to protest in whatever way we can,” Winn said. “It’s a beautiful day. A beautiful day to start some good trouble. It’s amazing today.”
“I will always be here, I will stay fighting” – senior JJ Balderas
“My parents, they were in complete fear, like they were afraid that something would happen to me or that something would happen to them. And I just think that’s not fair. For someone that lives in this country, they call it the land of the free, yet we live in fear all the time of getting separated,” Cruz added.
Demonstrators were cheered on by passing drivers and by children and teachers from Encinal Elementary School, located along the walkout route. Multiple deputies from the Atherton Police Department and the San Mateo County Sheriff’s Department repeatedly approached students, reminding them to stay on the side of the road.
Upon reaching Redwood City, students were greeted by many workers and business owners who stepped out of shops to cheer on the students. “It’s actually really heartwarming to see them stand up for parents, grandparents, and uncles who have come and try to give everybody a better life,” an anonymous observer said.
“It’s a beautiful day. A beautiful day to start some good trouble. It’s amazing today” – Menlo freshman Obasi Winn
As the students arrived at the county courthouse, they joined demonstrators who had walked out of Woodside High School, Redwood High School, and Kennedy Middle School. Students from Woodside had just finished giving speeches when the M-A protesters arrived. Together, students participated in many chants; some peaceful—“La gente unido jamas sera vencido (the people united will never be defeated),” “No hate, no fear, immigrants are welcome here”—and others more explicit— “F*ck ICE” and “Que viva la p*ta raza (long live the f*cking race!).”
“Some people might think ‘It’s such a horrible thing that people have to protest to get their rights,’ and yes that’s really bad, but when you’re at a protest I think you should show more joy so that you can show the government and all that they’re not breaking your spirit,” Kennedy seventh grader Elena Cantu Gonzalez said.
Celebrations, chants, and dancing continued outside the courthouse until demonstrators began dispersing around 12:15 p.m. to find food and return to their respective schools.
Nearby Sequoia High School students were supposed to meet up with the other demonstrators around noon, but were delayed by a brief secure campus order following a bomb threat in the community, later deemed not credible by police.
Prior to the walkout, Principal Karl Losekoot sent a message to students via Parent Square, emphasizing safety and clarifying students’ rights. It reminded students that SUHSD Administrative Regulation 5113 allows students to be excused from school—if called out by a parent—for “engagement in a civic or political event” one day per year.
Other schools received similar messages from administration, establishing a neutral stance on the matter and simply expressing a desire for their students to remain safe.
Additional demonstrations are expected to continue nationwide over the weekend.
