Glen Head Students Rally Together In Peaceful Walkout Against ICE, Parent Speaks Out

GLEN HEAD, NY — More than 60 students at North Shore High School in Glen Head walked out of school to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement on Wednesday.

One of the student organizers, a senior, said she was 100 percent motivated to express their support for immigrants in their community. She said 65 students showed up, using their voices for their neighbors, those who may be too scared to speak up. The walk-out occurred for only one class period.

She said they were upset at the events that occurred in Minneapolis, both Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti's deaths, two people who were shot and killed by ICE agents. After Pretti's death, is when she really began to talk about taking action.

The students wanted to show the community what a peaceful and respectful way to take action could look like, the organizer said.

The organizer's mother said this small act can have a big impact on their community. She said they rallied together dozens of students, creating signs and taking a stand.

"They're compassionate and intelligent kids," the proud parent said. "They were super organized and intentional. I was impressed."

They made a flyer and talked to friends, asking them to participate in a school walkout for a single period. Her mother said that word got out, and her daughter and other organizers made an appointment with the school admins to notify them of their intentions. Some teachers knew about it, but most did not.

"They told people to be prepared for detention," she said, adding that this was a well-planned protest, and they knew the possible risks of walking out of school.

The flyer stated that if ICE were to show up, students should immediately return to school grounds for safety. If approached by someone who is confrontational, students were encouraged to ignore the person and stay focused on their goals. There were chants, as well: 'When fascists attack, we fight back!' 'Love, not hate, makes America great!' and 'Who's streets? Our streets!' are some examples.

The flyer outlined their goals, including calling attention to the lack of accountability from ICE agents, and demanded more humane treatment and due process for those who interact with ICE.