Kehinde Hopkins

Scores of Polytechnic High School students march down Vaughn Boulevard to demonstrate against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

A large group of Polytechnic High School students took to Texas Wesleyan campus on Friday morning, Jan. 30, as one of the stops of their anti-ICE school walkout protest.  

The student protestors held signs, waved flags and coordinated chants in front of the Texas Wesleyan Canafax Clock Tower to express their disapproval of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) conduct under the Trump Administration before making their way down Vaughn Boulevard to continue their march.  

The protest was part of a nationwide walkout and general strike in response to increased immigration enforcement under the Trump Administration and a string of fatal shootings by ICE and US Customs and Borders Protections.  

“We’re just here to support our people,” Polytechnic senior Natalie said. “We might be kids, but we still know that our people aren’t bad.” 

Polytechnic senior Michelle attended the protest while holding a sign saying, “Immigrants Made America.”  

“The immigrants that come here, they come for work, to do better, to grow, to do better in life and do good for their family,” Michelle said.  

Texas Wesleyan senior marketing major London Shannon was working in the Martin University Center before hearing word of a large group gathering outside of the building.  

“At first, I didn’t know what they were protesting, so I was really trying to figure out what was going on,” Shannon said. “I’m completely down with it [the protest] because what ICE is doing is ridiculous.” 

Shannon emphasized the importance of civic engagement among high school-aged students.  

“Especially for kids that young because they can’t vote yet, I think it’s [protests] the only way that they can be heard,” Shannon said.  

Dr. Christopher Ohan, associate professor of history at Texas Wesleyan, witnessed the protest while driving down Vickery Boulevard on his way to campus. He highlighted the historical importance of student protest and offered his support for continued demonstrations on Texas Wesleyan campus.  

“Young people always drive social movements and change,” Ohan said. “It pains me to think that I’m living in a society—and maybe even at an institution—where our students aren’t out on the streets [protesting].”