Chicago Students Stage Schoolwide Walkout in Protest of Immigration Policy and ICE Tactics
Dozens of students at Nicholas Senn High School in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood walked out of school on Friday during sixth period, holding signs and flags to call for an end to immigration enforcement activity. The walkout was part of a broader student-led movement that has been gaining momentum across the city's high schools.
The protest, which took place at the intersection of Clark Street and Ridge Avenue, drew a significant response from passersby, with cars honking in support as students gathered. For some students, including junior Julia McGuire, this was a moment to speak out on an issue they feel strongly about.
"We need to speak up more," McGuire said. "We're young, we need to get the message out. We need to do everything we can, and just keep doing it." The walkout was organized by student groups at Senn High School, who planned it in advance to coincide with a week of demonstrations at other Chicago high schools.
The decision to stage a schoolwide walkout was made after students found out about a similar protest on social media. While some teachers were reportedly supportive of the students' efforts, others expressed concerns about the impact on academic work.
However, according to Claudia Ovalle, the school's network safety manager, students and administrators worked together to ensure that everyone involved in the walkout was safe. "We ask organizers questions like where they're going to gather, how many people are they expecting, and whether Chicago police need to be present," she said.
For McGuire and her fellow protesters, the message is clear: immigration policy and ICE tactics have no place in schools or our communities. As she put it, "It's making me happy seeing this many people coming out to do this... It's good knowing that there's a lot of people that also agree with us."
Dozens of students at Nicholas Senn High School in Chicago's Edgewater neighborhood walked out of school on Friday during sixth period, holding signs and flags to call for an end to immigration enforcement activity. The walkout was part of a broader student-led movement that has been gaining momentum across the city's high schools.
The protest, which took place at the intersection of Clark Street and Ridge Avenue, drew a significant response from passersby, with cars honking in support as students gathered. For some students, including junior Julia McGuire, this was a moment to speak out on an issue they feel strongly about.
"We need to speak up more," McGuire said. "We're young, we need to get the message out. We need to do everything we can, and just keep doing it." The walkout was organized by student groups at Senn High School, who planned it in advance to coincide with a week of demonstrations at other Chicago high schools.
The decision to stage a schoolwide walkout was made after students found out about a similar protest on social media. While some teachers were reportedly supportive of the students' efforts, others expressed concerns about the impact on academic work.
However, according to Claudia Ovalle, the school's network safety manager, students and administrators worked together to ensure that everyone involved in the walkout was safe. "We ask organizers questions like where they're going to gather, how many people are they expecting, and whether Chicago police need to be present," she said.
For McGuire and her fellow protesters, the message is clear: immigration policy and ICE tactics have no place in schools or our communities. As she put it, "It's making me happy seeing this many people coming out to do this... It's good knowing that there's a lot of people that also agree with us."
So I'm thinking, what's going on here is not just about students protesting immigration policy, but about the bigger question of who gets to decide what's best for our communities? 
As a neutral observer, I'd say we need more dialogue between students, teachers, and parents about the kind of society we want to build. 
And it's interesting how this student-led movement is being facilitated by social media - is that a good thing or a bad thing? 
can you believe these students are so brave? they're like, standing up for what's right and fighting for their rights 
. it's awesome to see them using social media to organize and spread the word about this issue 
. and yeah, some teachers were worried that it would disrupt classes, but I think it's awesome that they took a stand anyway 
. our youth are so powerful right now 
... can't wait to see what they come up with next! 
And what's up with teachers being all divided - some support it, others don't. Can't they just agree to disagree? 
I'd love to see more context on this issue and the actual impact of these walkouts... where are the statistics or expert opinions on how effective this is going to be? 
I'm glad to see students taking matters into their own hands about immigration policy. I mean, who needs teachers or administrators when you've got social media for inspiration? 
But seriously, it's impressive that these kids are standing up for what they believe in, even if it means facing some resistance from their teachers and the police. 
As long as the message is clear: no ICE tactics in schools, that's all I care about. Let the adults figure out how to work around each other... 
. can't wait to see what other young people in the city do next, this is some real empowerment 
. I think it's awesome that the kids are speaking out, though - we need more youth leaders like them who aren't afraid to take a stand. But at the same time, can you imagine the stress and anxiety those students must be feeling? The walkout was just the beginning, and I'm worried about how this whole thing is gonna play out 
.
i mean come on, we're talkin' about our future here! 
these kids are passionate and they deserve to be heard. it's awesome to see students taking a stand like this, especially in a city that's already got such a strong immigrant community 
the fact that it's getting so much attention is also a win – more ppl need 2 know about what's goin' on 
. but at the same time, i feel like if we wanna make a change, we gotta speak out and all that 
. They need to wake up and realize that students have a right to speak out and express themselves 
. Julia McGuire's quote is everything - we need to get our voices heard, especially when it comes to these issues 
. It's amazing to see so many people coming out in support 
. We need more people speaking up for what's right 
.
. It's just gotta be balanced out with some academic responsibilities, ya know? 
maybe something like 
But seriously, it's amazing to see young people taking initiative and using their voices to make a change.
It seems like some of them were worried about academic work, but what if you told them that the kids are just trying to learn about empathy and understanding too?