The Abridged version:
Students from at least eight high schools are expected to take part in the walkout and protest of ICE and immigration policies.
Protests are expected to take place around the country Friday and into the weekend.
School officials say students have a right to organize and walk out, as long as protests don’t “substantially disrupt the school environment.”
9:30 a.m., Friday, Jan. 30
Hundreds of students to walk out to protest ICE
Students from at least eight Sacramento-area high schools are expected to walk out of class Friday morning before joining an organized protest at the state Capitol against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and federal immigration policies.
The protest is expected to include students from seven high schools in the Sacramento City Unified School District, as well as Florin High School in the Elk Grove Unified School District. The walkout is expected to begin around 10:40 a.m., according to school officials.
Demonstrations are expected around the country today in protest of President Donald Trump’s immigration policies and the killing of two people by federal officers in Minneapolis earlier this month.
Andrea Egan, the principal of C.K. McClatchy High School in Sacramento, notified parents of the planned walkout this week.
“Students have a right to organize a walkout under the law protecting freedom of speech and assembly, but this right is not absolute,” Egan wrote. “Students also have rights to express their views in school, as long as it doesn’t substantially disrupt the school environment.”
Egan wrote in a Friday email to parents that “we have a plan on campus focused first and foremost on student safety.”
Sacramento City officials support but do not endorse walkouts
District leadership has “unwavering support” for the students protesting, according to Sacramento City Unified Board President Tara Jeane in a message to families Thursday. However, she drew a clear distinction that the activities were not planned or officially endorsed by the administration.
“Sacramento City Unified is responsible for the safety of all students on our school campuses. We know our staff will be monitoring what they can as students leave campus, but they do not have the capacity to supervise the planned activities,” Jeane wrote.
“In these challenging times, it is more important than ever to make sure every voice is heard,” she added. “Our students and families should know that Sacramento City Unified stands solidly behind the safe exercise of First Amendment rights, as a fundamental component of education and life.”
Abridged will update this story throughout Friday. Savannah Kuchar and Ryan Lillis contributed reporting.