North students left school during g-block to protest against the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in a nationwide walkout organized by Free America, Tuesday, Jan. 20.
As students headed down Walnut Street they raised handmade posters and recited chants, prompting honks from passing cars. After a small group of participating North students gathered at the Theater Entrance, more students gradually joined the march.
“I think that being in Newton, we have a lot of privilege and so even if it doesn’t affect our school in a major way, it still affects populations in our school,” said senior Mariana Chango-Gassett, who participated in the walkout. “I think having this privilege, we have the responsibility to stand in solidarity with the people who don’t.”
Chango-Gassett said that she heard about the walkout through Instagram and saw a poster for it at school, causing her to join the students on Walnut Street.
Retired North math teacher Elisse Ghitelman, who joined the walkout after hearing about it on the internet, said there were approximately 60 students at the protest.
According to the Free America Walkout website, people from all over the nation walked out of work, school, and stores at 2 p.m. local time in protest of ICE.
Chango-Gassett added that it is important to “bring attention to people at our school and show that we care and that we are conscious people.”
James Sloan said that he helped raise awareness and spread the message of the walkout by texting the people he knew.
“I think awareness is pretty high. I feel like what’s really important about this protest is showing solidarity with people,” Sloan said. “Obviously it’s not a huge problem right now in Newton, but in other places like Minneapolis right now, where it is a huge problem, it’s important to show us standing with them.”
According to Ghitelman, recent actions by ICE should not be taking place in America.
“I’m really sad because it’s having a really negative impact on a lot of people’s lives. It’s frightening, and I imagine if I was a young person, I’d be sort of more frightened,” Ghitelman said.
Sloan added that North student protestors felt unified and motivated by a common goal—to fight for a free America.
“We feel that ICE is getting in the way of that, and we want to stand in unity with the people being hurt,” he said.
According to Ghitelman, she was happy to see North students joining this national event. “I think it’s important that people of all ages do what they can,” said Ghitelman.
Teachers and staff members did not join the walkout. According to Riley House Dean Michelle Stauss, “We were not aware that our students were planning to participate in the walkout but we were aware that it was a possibility.”
