Friday, February 6th, hundreds of students at Wyoming High School walked out of class in a peaceful protest against recent actions by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to call attention to what they described as threats to civil rights. The event brought students together in front of the school’s main entrance, where student-made posters and chants were displayed.

Organizers said the walkout was not intended to disrupt learning but to show their immigrant classmates unity and to affirm the importance of constitutional protections.

“We’re here because our friends deserve to feel safe,” said senior D’Leeth Gayot-Ramirez, “This isn’t just about policy, it’s about people. We want to protect each other’s rights to live and learn without fear of being torn from our families.”

Students carried handmade signs referencing memes and calling out ICE.One sign read, “ICE has Booty Lice”. The mood was calm, and several teachers stood nearby to encourage respectful dialogue and to participate in the cause.

Senior Catherine Caracheo-Trujillo spoke about what the walkout meant to her personally: “When you see classmates worried about immigration enforcement showing up in their neighborhoods or at home, it makes you realize rights aren’t just words,” she said. “Our school should be a place of safety and inclusion. We walked out to say that out loud.”

Some students shared stories about families feeling anxious even after living in the United States for many years.

Others focused on students’ rights as Americans.

“It’s important to protest peacefully when something feels unfair,” said Senior Leo Ortiz. “Walking out together wasn’t just a statement; it was an exercise of our rights. We’re learning that protecting people means protecting everyone’s rights equally.”

Senior Asiana Sanchez emphasized the educational aspect of the walkout, “There’s a difference between being heard and being unsafe. We’re here to remind our community that human rights matter, and that includes everyone in our school.”

School administrators did not stop the demonstration but reminded participants that the walkout needed to remain peaceful. No disciplinary actions were reported, and parents were notified ahead of time about the event.

Supporters said events like this help students understand how constitutional protections like freedom of speech and the right to petition the government play out in real life.