Arcadia High School (AHS) students participated in a student-organized walkout against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Feb. 20. Beginning during period 4, hundreds of students marched from the Rally Court, out the front gate, and toward the Performing Arts Center (PAC), where nearly 20 students voiced their concerns with the agency’s policies. Speakers referenced incidents such as the death of Carlos Roberto Montoya Valdez, a 52-year-old Guatemalan national fatally struck by a moving vehicle in August after attempting to flee during a raid at The Home Depot in Monrovia; they described what they saw as the agency’s racial profiling of Mexican communities. Holding handmade signs, students called for awareness and change to the mismanagement of ICE. Following lunch, the crowd continued marching on Campus Drive, Holly Ave., and across Huntington Drive, where passing drivers honked in support.
Moments like this come at a time when free expression across the country feels increasingly fragile. Since returning to office a year ago, President Donald Trump has pushed the limits of executive power, pressuring institutions that allow dissent. Universities have faced the threat of investigations and federal funding cuts over campus protests. In March, funding to Columbia University was frozen following demonstrations on campus, forcing the school into policy changes.
In the face of increasing censorship and authoritarianism, people have taken notice. Across the country, protests have sprung up against the administration’s handling of many issues, including the conduct of ICE. Regardless of where one stands on ICE policy, these demonstrations highlight our reliance on the freedom of speech and assembly as tools for change.
Ratified in 1791 as part of the Bill of Rights, the First Amendment guarantees Americans both freedoms. Still, more than two centuries later, those same freedoms are being tested under an administration oblivious to the rule of law. Especially now, these protections should not disappear at school gates. While schools have a responsibility to maintain order and safety, they also have a responsibility to allow students to express their views on issues that affect their community.
Protests against ICE reflect a broader tension between the public’s right to speak freely and the government’s authority to maintain control. Across the country, some demonstrations have been met with heavy enforcement, including crowd dispersals, arrests, use of chemical agents, and even lethal force. Tragically, two U.S. citizens, Renee Good and Alex Pretti, were fatally shot by ICE agents in January, sparking nationwide outrage. Whether one agrees with the message or not, responding to peaceful assembly with force raises difficult questions about how well free speech is truly protected in public spaces.
Critics argue that walkouts disrupt learning and take time away from learning. While that concern is understandable, education is not limited to what happens inside a classroom. Learning how to organize responsibly, speak publicly, and engage with real world issues is also part of becoming an informed citizen and teaches lessons that no textbook can replicate.
Students who walked out on Feb. 20 weren’t looking for conflict. They were asking to be heard. In a time when free expression feels increasingly contested nationwide, that willingness to speak up matters. Schools should guide students on how to protest safely and thoughtfully, not discourage them from participating at all.
Democracy depends on people using their voices. If students learn anything from moments like this, it should be that disagreement is not something we should fear, it’s something we should protect.
