Despite rain on Thursday, students participated in a planned walkout in protest of immigration policy, specifically immigration enforcement (ICE) being allowed into school zones around the country and the targeting of the Hispanic community.
At lunch, students gathered to hear a fellow student speak about the issue on the quad before exiting the campus. Protesters gathered at the front of the Brown building and eventually moved onto the sidewalk in front of the school.
Some students protesting expressed that even if they haven’t been affected personally, they went out in support, because it was important to them to get their voices out.
Bailey Drake, a junior in BIT, said that she went out to protest because of her beliefs.
“I’m here because I believe in equal rights for all,” she said. “No one should have to worry about their family being split up or sent away.”
Bailey expressed her passion for the subject and said that she wouldn’t stop protesting until the way immigration is handled is changed.
“I want to see this law overturned, and for our community to be safe and united,” Bailey said. “It hasn’t affected me directly, but I know many people who are scared. I can’t stand by and watch it happen.”
Jade Hoskins, a junior in AMPA, agreed, saying that she felt the urge to protest because the topic was becoming larger in her life.
Jade said, “I’m here protesting to help see change in our community. It has affected my friends and their families.”
Aniyah Dunlap, an 11th grader in Humanities, said that her motive for protesting was because of the people involved in the situation.
“I’m protesting because it’s wrong to treat people like they don’t belong, especially when they’ve been living here for years,” she said.
Other protesting students shared a feeling that they couldn’t let the state of immigration pass them by without speaking out on some part of the issue because it has now become a bigger part of their thinking and life.
Chey Payne, a sophomore in AMPA, said that seeing even small impacts due to the new immigration laws was part of what inspired her to walk out.
“It hasn’t affected me but the corn man is not outside any more,” said Chey. “My Mexican friend [is] sad because she feels like [immigration] is going to take her family.”
Other students shared the emotional impact that the immigration laws had on them, even if they weren’t affected directly.
Aniyah said that she’s reflected on what she’s seen after the immigration laws were changed.
“This law hasn’t impacted me yet, but I see the fear in my friends’ eyes,” said Aniyah. “My classmate’s parents are at risk of being deported, and that’s heartbreaking.”
Students continued to share their passion while protesting, holding their umbrellas together while chanting to the cars passing by. Many students held up signs that were focused on the Hispanic community.
Many of the students said that during the protest, they hoped that their message of support for the Hispanic community was shown.
Janiah Osei, a Humanities junior, said that she was passionate about supporting the Hispanic community.
She said, “Hispanics are human too, I hope to see the Hispanics stay and not get deported.”
Kahlia Wilson, a Humanities 10th grader, shared the connection to the Hispanic community and the fight for immigration rights.
“I do have family and people around me that are Hispanic and I would be sad to see them go,” said Kahlia.
As the protest wrapped up, many students continued to hold the passion for protesting and their true message to communities affected by immigration.
Ayanna Bazille, a junior in the Humanities program, said that she was glad to protest because it got the message across that something has to change.
“I feel like [ICE] isn’t right and the whole process is wrong,” Ayanna said. “I hope that [protesting] changes how people see immigrants.”
Laynie Llanos, an AMPA sophomore, protested because of a personal impact from the immigration policies. She said she was outside with students to fight for the rights of people she knew.
“I had a family member that was recently deported two weeks ago because they didn’t have their papers and they’ve been here for thirty years,” said Laynie. “He was my uncle and I miss him.”
Laynie stood outside for the whole protest and said that it meant a lot to see the support from students, because she held a strong passion for the purpose and wanted to see things change.
Laynie said that she wants the vision of immigrants to change.
“He was not a criminal and he deserved to be here just as much as everybody else,” Laynie said regarding her uncle’s case.
Saya Decker, Ryleigh Whisenant and Jayla McAdams contributed reporting to this article.
