On Feb. 4, students walked out at Mt. Diablo High School to protest the violent activities of ICE, with freshmen like Ashley Garcia leading the way.
“As a person of color, I sometimes feel like I have to live in fear, wondering if this unfair treatment could happen to me or the people I care about,” said Garcia, who spoke about the injustice that immigrants and people of color have long faced as reasons she came out to protest.
Garcia spoke about her first protest in January of last year, when increased activity from U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement sparked fear both nationally and in the community.
At the time, students decided to come together and “show that immigrants are welcome and that they play an important role in this country,” Garcia said.
Earlier this month, when the gates of Mt. Diablo High opened to allow students to go out and protest with their peers, students’ phones were unlocked to ensure their safety, which was the top priority for the school.
Administrators widely supported the walkout, part of a district-wide protest against ICE, the federal agency whose aggressive tactics have turned American cities like Minneapolis into war zones in recent months.
“I think it’s really good when students learn to understand politics and [express] their opinions,” said Mt. Diablo Vice Principal Liz Mangelsdorf. “We just want them to [protest] in a safe way.”
Mt. Diablo Principal Markell McCain agreed that students have a right to protest. “I just wanted kids to be safe,” he said.
Another active voice on the Mt. Diablo campus was Ethnic Studies teacher Laura Valdez. Valdez said she was likewise happy to see students express themselves and their beliefs.
“I’m proud of the kids who went out, [who] actually made signs and stood up,” said Valdez, who cautioned students to remain safe — particularly since the identity of the person who sparked the student walkout on Instagram remained unknown.
She warned students about the possibility of the page being a potential setup. At the same time, she commended the freshmen especially who led students down the street, which reflects how “brave” they are.
“I thought that was cool,” she said. “[It’s] good for them to lead the way in such uncertainty.”