In the past few months, violence from ICE agents has been highly televised. This stemmed from the recent shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Many teens across the country, especially in Atlanta, have participated in school walkouts to protest ICE.
Many students have developed fear for their own safety and their peers’ safety in light of recent deportations and killings as a result of ICE. Teens have moved forward to voice their concerns via country-wide walkouts. From here, in the heart of Georgia, to cities across the nation, walkouts have become a powerful form of protest.
“I decided to participate in my school’s walkout because I feel that we, as the next generation, need to express our beliefs. We are all equal, and we deserve the same rights,” says Gavin Searcy, a junior at North Atlanta High School.
To some, it seems like ICE is targeting people of different races disproportionately.
According to the Emancipator, Black and Brown people have been profiled as undocumented immigrants much more than white people. This has led to many students thinking ICE isn’t fairly treating many Hispanic people.
Stockbridge High School’s walkout was spearheaded by sophomore Cenniah Hayden. I had the chance to speak to her about her experience organizing it. She articulates, “My motivation was seeing the hurt of families and individuals. What also motivated me was my peers, who supported me and my decision.” She also says that “having a blueprint, talking to individuals, getting inputs, and hearing feedback from others to execute the event” were all elements that went into her organizing.
School walkouts against ICE aren’t a Georgia-exclusive event.
CBS has covered school walkouts in Maryland. Oregon Public Broadcasting reported numerous student-led walkouts in Portland, Oregon. And in Minneapolis, the city where Renee Good and Alex Pretti were killed, thousands of students and teachers walked out on January 30th, as reported by Reuters.
Students have come together to rally for a cause they believe in. Gavin wishes for equal treatment for all Americans. He says, “Diversity is a gift, not a curse.”
