Hundreds of Lakewood High School students braved the 25-degree weather on Thursday morning to walk out of their classrooms during fifth period in protest of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
During the walkout, students chanted, “ICE Out!” and “No Trump, no KKK, no fascist USA!”
Many students held signs with slogans such as, “Abolish ICE”, “No one is illegal on stolen land”, and “Liberty and Justice for All”, while marching from the school entrance on Hilliard Road down Bunts Road in Lakewood.
A few school administrators and local police were present, and many vehicles passing by honked their horns in support. Students who joined the protest were given unexcused absences for fifth period in accordance with district policy. Lakewood High has approximately 1,300 students.
School staff was made aware of the walkout last week, according to an email to parents dated Feb. 6, which stated, “When students express interest in organizing a walkout, Lakewood High School does not endorse or sponsor the activity. However, our administrators do meet with student organizers to listen to their concerns and to clearly communicate expectations and school procedures.”
Principal Joy Morgan sent out an email to the school community Thursday afternoon that read, “This morning, a group of Lakewood High students participated in a peaceful walkout during the school day to voice their opposition to the current administration’s immigration policies.”
Morgan ended the communication with, “We appreciate your partnership in encouraging safe, respectful, and responsible student engagement.”
The walkout Thursday took place within the context of nationwide protests against ICE that have surged since the killings of US citizens Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis.
Ohioans are concerned ICE may be coming to the Buckeye State in the near future. Just this week, the Columbus Dispatch reported, “Gov. Mike DeWine said federal officials promised him at least 24 hours’ notice if they plan to ramp up immigration enforcement in Springfield, which is home to thousands of Haitian immigrants.” Last week, a federal judge blocked an attempt to remove Temporary Protected Status (TPS) for Haitians, the Associated Press noted, though advocates fear the reprieve is temporary and ICE agents could still soon be flooding Ohio.
Students said they were protesting ICE and the political divisions in the community.
Henry Tretethen V, a freshman at Lakewood High School who helped organize the protest, said, “The walkout was organized not only in protest of ICE, but also to bring unification to the people of Lakewood. Many people have forgotten what it meant and felt to be truly united, and so this protest hopefully bridged those gaps, which will strengthen Lakewood’s identity and hold up its back from breaking under ICE’s tyrannical boot.”
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