Following President Donald Trump’s inauguration, the re-elected president set his sights on securing the border in a different facet than a wall. Instead of focusing on border control, Trump decided to increase homeland security for the country by deploying the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to multiple major cities in hopes of purging illegal immigrants. The president’s efforts currently face major backlash, with 60 corporations, such as Target and Best Buy, calling for the de-escalation of ICE as protests pop up around the country, claiming that “no one is illegal on stolen land,” and students have joined in too, staging walk-outs as a demonstration about the severity of ICE’s infiltration.
While the backlash against the masked ICE agents has remained prominent since the original onslaught of unmarked vehicles filled with men carrying loaded guns, protests picked up rapidly after the shooting of both Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Swells of citizens turned to social media to review the graphic footage and see the backstories of each person’s death, with multitudes pointing out what they deemed as unnecessary violence used by the ICE agents. The public outrage spread from adults to students, granting teens permission to stage walk-outs to procure attention to the pressing issue.
In Georgia, numerous high schools took action, with a substantial number hosting walk-outs throughout the week of January 26-30. Undeterred by the biting weather, students decorated posters with slogans and anti-ICE messages marked across them and marched out of school between class changes. Despite the looming consequences, the brave teenagers created a disruptive display that spread like wildfire to other schools in Georgia. These protests have proven popular among high schools in North Georgia, with an Instagram account dedicated to spreading the message and organizing walk-outs for different high schools and universities.
Ready to follow the trend, NC quickly tried to organize a walk-out Friday, January 30, at the end of third period. The original organizers — anonymous sophomores — valued the principal’s blessing to continue with the walk-out and created a form that asked for identifying evidence such as first and last name, race, ethnicity and how ICE has impacted the student personally. The idea, however, quickly dissipated as the students realized that, legally, Principal Dr. Bell could not permit students to disrupt the school day and leave campus while he remained liable for their welfare.
The following evening, Cobb County sent out an email detailing the expectations of attending school and the consequences that would follow if a student participated in the walkout. With several students dismayed, select scholars decided that, despite the inability to demonstrate their disagreement with ICE through a school demonstration, they would host a real protest. Sophie Salomon, a magnet senior, took charge by posting on her Instagram story that, even though students could not walk out, they could organize outside of school and utilize their freedom of speech.
Salomon contacted the city clerk and the Kennesaw Parks and Recreation Center to ask about potential permits that the students may need, and fortunately, the city assisted the teen in finding the right requirements. The required permit cost $350, a sizable amount of money for any teenager, so the organizers relied on social media. Within the hour, other students and adults had raised enough money to buy the permit. With the funds and dedication to complete the preparation, students posted the location and time on Instagram so that others could join if they wanted, with the original post garnering over a thousand shares. After the posts reached across NC and gained traction around Cobb, the Cobb County Police Department reached out to Salomon through a phone call. The two groups discussed amicably, both clearly stating the desire for a peaceful protest, and when they finished chewing over the details, the police decided to attend the event to ensure safety.
“I knew something had to be done, and to me this was the best solution. I know this is an issue that hits close to home for a lot of us, and within these difficult times, I want to remind everyone to keep fighting, keep making your voices heard and keep being loud about what you know is right. We’re stronger together and that’s why they’re trying to stop us. It is important now more than ever before to be loud about where you stand and where you come from. We are as worthy of this country as any other American, and those without their citizenship, those who came here for a better life, those who have built this country are more worthy than anyone,” Salomon said.
At Swift-Cantrell Park, a clear red line marked the area in which the protestors could stand, ensuring that others who came to enjoy the amenities would not fall out of place among the crowd. Quickly, over a hundred students and adults filled in the space, pressing the edge of the marked area closest to the road, hoping for those who drove by to recognize the issue and consider the political state regarding ICE. Before the event officially started, Salomon administered a heartfelt speech, and her vulnerability lulled the crowd into profound stillness, reminding the attendees of the true importance of the protest. After a quick round of applause, an abundance of handmade signs shone proudly in the air while the students chanted creative choruses, loud enough for the entire park to hear. By 4:30 pm, around 150 students and adults, including older folks, gathered to utilize their First Amendment right.
The sheer outreach of the protest shook those around, with a multitude of high schools showing up, including students from Pope, Marietta, Harrison and Kennesaw Mountain. Beyond that, families attended the event with young children who proudly stood with their neighbors. The moving sight led to a substantial number of tears shed by the people there. No strangers attended, only friends, people driven by the same mindset, same morals and same goal: protect their friends, family and neighbors.
“I’m here because, first and foremost, my son is here, so I wanted to support him in speaking out for the issues that he cares about. I also agree with their cause. I mean, I don’t believe that immigrants are a problem in this country. I think they’re a blessing for this country. So if I were his age, I would have been out here, so I support him being out here, too. Listen, I understand the need for comprehensive immigration reform. I do think some things need to be done there, but I’m more of the mindset that everybody deserves a chance to be happy in a good life. And if they can make it here, are they law-abiding, productive people? Then I think they have every right to be here. So, if you ask me, ICE has got better things to do,” protestor Lee Smith said.
Throughout the protest, magnet seniors Hannah Nicholson and Idong Okpok painted faces with flags or “ICE out” slogans while simultaneously offering water and snacks to those around them. Similarly, students with boxes of chips and other goodies walked throughout the swells of people to let the protestors grab a quick bite as they passed. Food acted as only one extra aspect, though, with civil volunteers wearing reflective vests passing out cards and flyers that granted students at least 17 and a half years old the opportunity to register to vote. Whilst the crowd remained taken care of, magnet senior Alyssa Russell created convivial chants that added to the atmosphere. The students worked together as one, simultaneously tending to the participants while advocating for those who could not attend the event.
For two hours, the brave students from around Cobb County advocated for what they believed in, showing that despite the inability to vote, their voice will still remain heard. Watching their friends, family, and even neighbors come down to the local park to participate in a student-led protest lifted the hearts of each individual there. Together, they proved that even without a vote, their voices carried the strength to spark change.
“We’re peacefully protesting against ICE at Swift-Cantrell Park today. Both my parents are immigrants. I’m an immigrant myself. I remember when I was young, I definitely had conflicts my whole life with being an immigrant and not always being accepted where I am. So this, to me, is a big thing for my family and all my friends. [The protest turnout] definitely shows that there is going to be a change in the world, and that we’re going somewhere. I mean, it’s definitely hard to believe that this many people are here, but it’s amazing. I feel so, I don’t even know how to explain it. I’m speechless,” senior Eddie Jinan said.
