Students demand ‘ICE out now’: Anti-ICE walkouts held at Four Rivers, Frontier

Students at Four Rivers Charter Public School and Frontier Regional School walked out of class Friday afternoon, joining activists across the country in an economic blackout that called on people to leave work and school, and cease shopping for the day as a way to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents’ actions in Minnesota.

“We wanted to come out here and show our solidarity with Minnesota and our support for victims of ICE everywhere,” said Four Rivers junior Bowie Solodky as 130 students stood in front of the school on Colrain Road, holding signs and chanting as vehicles drove by. “There’s a lot of fear around ICE and deportations. We wanted to show our community that Four Rivers does not stand for what is happening right now in our nation.”

ICE agents have been reported to be using aggressive, militaristic tactics since President Donald Trump took office. Military-styled officers have been seen going door to door to find and detain immigrants, the Associated Press reports, while other masked officers have been seen smashing car windows, pulling people from their vehicles and homes, and taking them into custody.

The demonstrations are also taking place amid widespread outrage over the killing of Alex Pretti, who was shot multiple times after he used his cellphone to record an immigration enforcement operation in Minneapolis. Pretti’s death came just weeks after the Jan. 7 death of Renee Good, who was fatally shot behind the wheel of her vehicle by an ICE officer.

Friday’s walkouts were not the first instance of students taking a stance in opposition to ICE in Franklin County. Last week, also as part of a nationwide effort, about 50 Mohawk Trail Regional School students walked out of class early to speak out against what they describe as the unconstitutional actions of ICE agents.

The students at Four Rivers said they had heard about Friday’s nationwide protest and wanted to get involved. They went from classroom to classroom, passing out flyers to their peers and spreading the news by word of mouth.

Junior Hazel Bird was ecstatic with the turnout, and that students from all grades attended.

“I love the span of ages. There’s middle schoolers all the way to high school seniors, and that’s something that’s so beautiful about our school,” Bird said.

The group was also gathering signatures for a petition, with plans to present it to the Four Rivers administration in hopes that the school might issue an official statement denouncing ICE.

Solodky said Four Rivers is a place where students feel empowered to speak out and act on their beliefs, and that while some schools might try to stop a walkout, at Four Rivers, administrators who heard about their protest plans were open to students engaging in political action, provided that they were safe while doing so.

“I think in a lot of other places this could have sparked a pushback from the administration, and I’m really happy that Four Rivers is a place where even though the administration widely knew this was happening, they were still super supportive,” Solodky said. “Their main concern was that people wouldn’t be dressed for the cold, so I was asked just to put on my flyer to tell people to dress warm.”

Students, bundled up in heavy winter jackets, hats and gloves, donned their signs and a few blankets to express concern that ICE agents have been capturing and deporting people without due process.

“America was built on immigrants,” senior Gwen Kemp said. “We’re fighting for our Constitution because what ICE is doing is unacceptable and the youth will not stand for what is happening.”

Outside Frontier Regional School, students from seventh to 12th grade chanted, “No hate! No fear! Immigrants are welcome here!”

“Frontier Regional School is against ICE. The student body needs them out of our country, and we’re here to protest and show our support for anti-ICE,” Frontier junior Addie Ehle said, holding a “Hot people melt ICE” sign.

Drums rumbled in the crowd as students cheered, “ICE out now!”

Across the street, Deerfield residents gathered to show their support for the students.

Junior Leo Reiber helped senior Amalia Smith organize the protest, but he did not expect such a large crowd.

“It’s a really important cause. People are getting kidnapped all the time,” Reiber said. “It’s not even just about Deerfield or Frontier; it’s about everyone’s neighbors, not just mine, not just ours.”

Reiber hopes Friday’s nationwide protests included participation from a lot of schools.

“I hope to see today that a lot, a lot, a lot of schools across America have made an impact and our voices heard,” Reiber said, “because it’s scary, and this is the only way to actually make a change.”

Toward the end of the protest, which started at 1:45 p.m. and scattered when the bell rang at 2:15 p.m., a student pulled out a flute and played “This Land Is Your Land.”

“Our whole government started because we spoke out against unfair rules, and I think it’s important for us to keep going with that,” freshman Jimin Ahn said, gripping a sign that read, “Immigrants Make America Great.”

Watching her classmates protest, Ahn said she teared up.

“We’re a young country and we have so many people at the school who are fighting for the right thing, and that really makes me happy,” Ahn said.

Ahn and fellow freshman Josie Silva stood outside with their signs after the bell rang and the line of vehicles rushed in to pick up students, some honking along the way.

“It’s so important for young people to be part of this. Even though we can’t vote, I think it’s important to speak out,” Silva said. “We’re not helpless.”