On Tuesday, Jan. 20, approximately 20 students from Kalmiopsis Community Arts High School staged a walkout from their school in protest of ICE raids. They then gathered on Redwood Highway, between the Bigfoot Plaza and Junction Realty, and held signs while waving at passing cars. One protestor was wearing a colorful inflatable unicorn costume.
The walkout was inspired by a national campaign called the Free America Walkout, organized by the group Women’s March. It called on people across the country to walk out of school and work at 2pm on Tuesday, in protest of the Trump Administration’s actions.
The organizer of the KCA action, who wanted to only be identified as “Ziggy,” said that the protest is focused on the “escalating threat” posed by Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE.
“A lot of minorities are being targeted, like trans people,” Ziggy, a senior at the school, said. “Families are being torn apart. [Our protest] is anti-Trump, anti-fascism.”
The demonstrators chanted “No justice, no peace! Keep ICE off our streets!”
Administrators at KCA said that they had no knowledge of the planned walkout and that teachers did not “require nor pressure” students to take part, but noted that it is illegal in Oregon for school staff to attempt to prevent students from leaving school by using strategies such as blocking exits or locking doors.