On Monday, February 23, many students of FHC prepared to participate in the student-led ICE protest walkout. The walkout was to show support and express opinions to push for a change and show solidarity to fellow community members who are potentially affected by ICE attacks. The walkout allowed students to feel connected to a movement bigger than themselves, and protesting helps raise awareness of these injustices. Senior Nuwelin Dagne believes that it is her duty as a fellow immigrant to speak on behalf of other immigrants and immigrant students who may not be able to.
“I just felt a duty because I am an immigrant. I wasn’t born in the United States of America. My parents weren’t born here. The only people [in my family] who were born here are my little brothers. I feel like as someone who has faced discrimination for not being from the United States, it is really important to me because a lot of people think that things like these don’t occur, but they do, and it’s real, and it affects real life people and it’s not just random people: it’s your neighbors, it’s your friends.” said Dagne, “Even if I wasn’t an immigrant, I think it’d be important to me just because of the fact that these are real life people, who may have broken the law, yes, but at the same time, we are a nation that was built on the back of immigrants.”
Student participation can be important at these types of events because it helps bring light to the problems the community faces. Dagne further explains the purpose of the walkout that took place at FHC and why it’s important to speak out in instances such as these for others who might not be as fortunate too.
“The purpose of our walkout was to show that there are people here who are standing for the people whose rights are being abused, even though we were a smaller number, I think it’s really important to just go out and show there are people who are there for others who might not feel comfortable to come and walk out.” said Dagne, “It just shows that our community and our school is not a monolith. There are people with a lot of different beliefs, and there are people who are here to help others who don’t feel safe [coming] forward, and just to speak their minds. It’s a school protest, There’s not gonna be a lot of impact in the wider community, but I think it just shows our school culture that it’s okay to stand up for what you believe in, regardless of if you’re gonna get a detention.”
Initially, there were a handful of students who were nervous to participate in the walkout, whether that be because of concerns of attendance, getting in trouble, or pressure from others. The overall uncertainty can be overwhelming to students, however, with the turnout rate that FHC had during the ICE protest walkout, many students were given a chance to share their stories and speak their opinions on the systemic injustices witnessed in America over the past couple of months. Senior Ava Danouse said she, like other students who walked out, felt very nervous at first.
“To be honest, I was nervous because I didn’t really know how many people were gonna be out there, but at the same time, I still went because it didn’t really matter who else was out there as long as I’d be there that just means that’s one more person participating in something great,” said Danouse. “Everyone who was out there went out for the right purpose.”
Although it may not seem important now, students participating in political movements such as the ICE walkout can be influential because one day, the current students of the world will one day be our future leaders. These issues are actively affecting our community, and the more students participate and confidently speak on behalf of these issues, the less stigma follows them. Denouse believes that change often happens when people come together to discuss issues.
“[Participation in the walkout] gives you all a voice, and a real reason to stand, because, if you don’t stand for something, then what do you fall for?” She said.
During the walkout, there were speeches held and signs made to further elaborate the messages students were trying to convey. Many of the speeches were students’ own personal accounts on how they have been affected by the ICE raids and kidnappings, while the signs poured out students’ feelings about how people have been treated unjustifiably by their own government. Junior Mari Jones mentions how one specific sign really spoke to her.
“It said ‘Love Thy Neighbor.’ It is a verse from Leviticus that says when a stranger comes into your land, treat them as your own,” said Jones. “I grew up in a Christian household. My family is very Christian, and I, especially nowadays, think Christianity or religiousness is being weaponized against others, especially in the use of ICE. I feel like while we can say one thing about Christianity, the bottom line is always love my neighbor. It’s always been that we are all God’s children.”
Many of the students who participated in the walkout were displeased to learn that they would receive a detention for leaving the building during the school hours, although it might seem unjust, a protest’s purpose is to draw attention to a matter and walking out shows the students dedication to a cause because they are willing to stand up for the cause even if that means discipline. Administrators may not disagree with the cause of the protest, but they must enforce rules, which can cause conflicting emotions. Jones talks about the conversation she had with her father after receiving a detention for participating in the walkout.
“When I told him I had the detention, he [said] ‘to protest is to sacrifice.’ He talked about my grandparents during civil rights activism and how they would get hosed out by police officers, they’d get beaten in jail, they would get arrested, detention is very, very mild, in comparison to that,” said Jones.
