By Kai Bwor, Brenna Angelo, & Maya Omran

On January 30, 2025, at least a hundred students from Granada Hills Charter High School (GHC) participated in a lunchtime walkout to protest the actions of the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), joining the many demonstrations taking place across the nation.
Another walkout took place on February 6 with fewer students.
The walkouts began during lunch near the school’s flagpole on Zelzah Avenue. Students who chose to participate left campus and walked through nearby neighborhoods, including areas near Patrick Henry and Lakeshore. Some students returned for fifth period while others continued the walkout until the end of school.
According to students, between 200 and 300 individuals initially walked out in the first demonstration. During the height of it, however, the group held approximately 50 to 75 participants chanting and holding signs. Throughout the walk, passing cars honked in support, and some community members even stood alongside the students.
Freshman Lily D., one of the students involved in the walkout, said her motivation came from learning about ICE activity affecting families and children.
“ICE was originally made to put people back where they came from, but it started getting out of hand,” Lily said. “When I found out what they were doing to children, especially when ICE came into Minneapolis, I wanted to stand up for what I believed in.”
Originally, organizers planned to walk out during lunch quietly, but later decided to spread awareness more broadly in hopes of being heard, especially on social media.
Junior Bruno L. found out about the protest through social media.
“I was hoping to spread awareness on the depth of the issue and how it is affecting and angering innocent people,” Bruno said. “I believe the protest made me have a stronger sense of belief in justice and activism within our community, as it showed courage and leadership throughout students.”
GHC administration was aware of the walkout and sent an email warning that participants would receive unexcused absences and truancies if they chose to leave campus without parent permission.
Despite this, many students still participated, willing to face the consequences. Some prepared signs ahead of time, while others joined friends already gathered outside.
“The energy was strong. It definitely pushed people out of their comfort zones,” Lily said.
While some students felt skeptical of student protests, others felt inspired, and some even felt a mix of both. Junior Jazzleen E. didn’t participate in the protest but her perspective of student activism changed once she saw her peers engage respectfully and passionately.
“I was hesitant at first because student activism is often dismissed as performative or just an excuse to skip class,” Jazzleen said. “But we live in a democracy, and when we feel our community isn’t being represented, we the students have the right to protest as it’s a valid way to say that we’re not okay with what’s happening.”
After the conclusion of the walkouts, it is important to recognize the attention the event brought to students engaging with national issues at a local level.
By organizing and participating, GHC students demonstrated their willingness to speak up on issues that they believe affect their communities, influencing how future actions and discussions take place at GHC.