Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has been a recent controversy within America, spreading ideas of hate-filled harm across the nation. Due to this, Aliso Niguel students took matters into their own hands, setting up a peace protest during school.
On Jan. 30, students left campus during their third period and walked all the way to Aliso Viejo’s Town Center. Over 400 students walked out with anti-ICE posters, protesting against their violence.
The protest was set up and executed by students at Aliso Niguel High School under an Instagram account (@aliso.iceout). The account accumulated over 500 followers within the three days before the protest, gaining both hate and support.
The owner(s) of the account shared, “We did this protest to exemplify why student voices matter. We have such a diverse group of students at Aliso Niguel who deserve the right to voice their opinion on matters regarding their safety within the community. This wasn’t a protest; it was an example of how students can come together and use their voices for good.”
When students gathered around outside, they all came together holding posters of what they truly felt, such as “Nobody is Illegal on Stolen Land” and “I’m leaving my lessons to teach others a lesson”.
Students chants surrounded Aliso Town center, with shouting, music and singing. The protest acted as a way for a community to bond over their shared beliefs and what their voices could do.
Before the walk-out, much controversy came from parents arguing whether the school had any involvement in this protest. The school made it clear that any protest was not under their control and that students should continue with their classes as planned. “We are aware of the rumored student-organized protest tomorrow here at Aliso Niguel and many other Orange County school campuses. At Aliso Niguel, our expectation is for the school to run as normal. Classes will be in session, and teachers will be teaching. The protest is not organized or endorsed by the school, and all attendance and school rules will be in effect. The expected place for our students is in class as scheduled. We have notified our partners at the Orange County Sheriff’s Department of the rumored protest so they can be aware and support safety off campus if students choose to leave without permission. As a school site, we will focus on campus safety and actively monitor the campus. We encourage parents and families to discuss their expectations with their child, and we maintain that the safest and most appropriate place for each student is in the classroom as scheduled,” shares Principal Dr. Mahindrakar.
With such safety nets set up for students to have the ability to use their First Amendment rights, the protest was a success and led to a spark of inspiration for those in the community.
Whether students agreed with the protest or disagreed, they shared their voice by staying in or out of school. The ICE walkout was a presentation of how students play such an important role in activism and how they can alter the future.
With debates on ICE protocols, it is clear that Aliso Niguel High School students have voiced their opinions on the matter.
