East Orange Teens Hold School Walkout To Protest ICE (See Photos, Video)

EAST ORANGE, NJ — Hundreds of high school students in East Orange recently held an “ICE Out” walkout to protest the ongoing federal immigration crackdown.

Students at Cicely L. Tyson High School of Performing Arts held their walkout Friday morning on school grounds. The teens marched around the campus chanting and holding signs that read “Abolish ICE,” “No Kings” and “We are not criminals, we are Dreamers.”

The students gathered in the courtyard for speeches and spoken word poetry, then returned to class afterwards. Video footage from the walkout shows a peaceful, orderly march.

Student organizers said they held the walkout to raise awareness about how immigration enforcement policies are impacting local families.

“Behind every policy and every headline are real people whose lives are affected,” said Madison McZorn, a senior at Cicely L. Tyson.

“This walkout is about dignity, awareness and reminding people that the issues we debate in the news affect families in our own community,” she added.

McZorn said the demonstration was also meant to encourage students to stay engaged with issues shaping their communities.

“We’re young, but we’re not unaware of what’s happening in the world around us,” she said. “This walkout was about using our voices peacefully and showing that students care about the safety and dignity of people in our communities.”

The protest got support from members of Kappa Theta Delta, the school’s honor society. Organizers reported that several local officials and school administrators were present at the walkout, including Mayor Ted Green and East Orange council members Bergson Leneus, Naiima Fauntleroy and Casim Gomez Sr.

“I’m proud of all of you today for standing up for what’s right – and what’s not right,” Green told the students.

The East Orange Police Department was present to help ensure the safety of students and staff throughout the event, organizers said.

• See Related: East Orange Holds 'Know Your Rights' Forum About Immigration Enforcement [WATCH]

WALKOUTS IN ESSEX COUNTY

The protest at Cicely L. Tyson High School is the latest in a series of student-led walkouts that have been taking place in Essex County.

Other recent school walkouts against ICE have happened in Bloomfield, Montclair and West Orange.

• Read More: High School, College Students Hold Anti-ICE Walkouts In Montclair
• Read More: Bloomfield Student Walkout: Photos Give An Inside Look At Anti-ICE Protest
• Read More: West Orange Teens Hold School Walkout Against ICE Crackdown

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