A different bell rang Friday on many Southern California campuses — a call urging students to walk out of school instead of going to their next class as thousands joined protests in a series of protests against the Trump administration’s crackdown.
Across many school districts — from Long Beach to Los Angeles to Pasadena — crowds of students skipped school or walked out of classes and restaurants, joining restaurateurs who were closed for the day, parents who took the day off work to attend a rally, and activists who have been marching for months. Walkouts – organized and spontaneous – also occurred at UCLA, USC and Cal State LA
For many students, the immigration attacks have been personal, involving undocumented family or friends. They’ve felt fear in their communities since mass arrests began in June — and they’re motivated to act after the recent violence in Minneapolis. Others said they were inspired to take civics lessons in the classroom to the streets.
“There are times when a protest is more necessary than going to class,” said Hart Lipsmith, a junior at Sequoyah School in Pasadena, who led protesters in downtown Los Angeles chanting “ICE out of LA,” while wielding a megaphone.
Los Angeles public schools have moved to protect students and families, planning safe routes to guide the journey to and from school. Educators described a “difficult climate” deepening on campuses over forced immigration. Enrollment has declined, in part because of fear of raids and evictions.
School leaders and teachers were prepared for possible widespread disruption.
In a letter to parents, Los Angeles Unified Supt. Alberto Carvalho said his district “supports the rights of our students” to protest but warned that “the safest place for students is at school.” District attendance data shows 80% of LAUSD students attended classes Friday, compared to 90% five days ago.
Long Beach
More than 100 students walked out of Cabrillo High School carrying signs and flags of Mexico and Guatemala. The staff watched from the entrance while two white school security vehicles were parked nearby.
The now Long Beach City College alum led the march, joined by Safe Passage seniors and other community groups. They walked for more than 2.5 hours to the Long Beach Civic Center, singing as cars screeched in support.
“The job of the youth is to challenge corruption,” read one student’s sign.
Junior Ana Rivera said she knows of teachers and coaches who support the decision to leave school to protest. He said this issue affected him because he moved to Mexico with his father in 2011 after he was deported. Rivera returned to Long Beach in 2016.
“ICE has always been there,” he said. “It’s getting worse.”
About 3,000 high school and middle school students from several schools protested against ICE, according to the district, and about 600 gathered outside the Long Beach Civic Center.
“We know that recent events and national discussions about immigration enforcement are secretive and cause fear, uncertainty, and emotional distress for many in our community,” a district spokesperson said in a statement. “We stand in solidarity with our immigrant students and our families and are unwavering in our commitment to protect the dignity, safety and right to education of each and every student.”
Lucia Tellez, a sophomore at Woodrow Wilson High School, was one of those who attended the meeting. “I don’t want to see violence,” said Tellez, 15. Seeing all the stories breaks my heart.
Itzel, his parents and undocumented older brothers, walked 1.5 hours from Wilson High School to the Long Beach Civic Center. His group left the school at 11 am
“It feels empowering to be able to speak,” she said, asking that her last name be withheld because of her family’s exit.
Los Angeles
In Los Angeles, students were drawn to the rally at Gloria Molina Grand Park in the city, walking or taking the bus to nearby schools.
Matthew Landa, a sophomore at Larchmont Charter High School, said many left his school and came downtown by bus.
“We want change, that’s why we came out to protest,” he said.
Teresa Albores, a seventh grader at Nightingale Middle School, was among those who dropped out. He joined the uncle of one of his friends in this march.
“It’s not right,” Albores said of the immigration attacks that have occurred across the US
Lipsmith of Sequoyah School in Pasadena described his youth activism in broad terms.
“We are the grandchildren of the protesters, we are the grandchildren of the oppressed,” he said. “And we inherit that pressure and that responsibility to keep this going.”
LASUD board member, Tanya Ortiz Franklin, whose district includes Watts, Gardena and San Pedro, said there are walkouts in many schools in the area she represents. They include John C. Fremont High School, where he said about 150 students walk during the day.
“They feel empowered,” Franklin said. He said the students “were afraid of being kidnapped, being separated from their families. And this kind of stress is not appropriate for our government officials who are very afraid to show their faces in many ways.”
Although Franklin did not encourage students to walk out, he said schools did not “lock the gate” to prevent walkouts. He suggested that students “raise their voices in a safe way on campus.”
“We hope that adults manage people under the age of 18, and supervise those who are out.”
College activism
At UCLA, hundreds of students gathered Friday afternoon at the Bruin Bear statue in an “ICE out” event, part of a series of actions on campus in the past few weeks, including Thursday’s campus vigil for Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two American citizens whose deaths by federal agents in Minnesota sparked national outrage.
Other UCLA faculty members also joined the rally in downtown Los Angeles, and members of the California Faculty Assn., the union that represents professors throughout the Cal State system, said they planned to protest.
UCLA Chancellor Julio Frenk and Carvalho, LAUSD superintendent, were scheduled to speak together Friday about college and K-12 partnerships at Horace Mann UCLA Community School near South LA
More travel is planned
Many high schools in the Los Angeles area, including those in the San Fernando Valley, have announced multiple rallies on Feb. 6.
“We’re going out in front of the school and we’re going to walk to Ted Green Park!!” said an Instagram post promoting the walk that day at Pomona High School. “We are protesting ICE and what they are doing to our community. Bring flags, posters, jerseys, etc! Stand up for your culture! Our community!!”
