Hundreds of students from various high schools walked off their campuses Friday and took part in marches protesting federal immigration-enforcement actions.
The walkouts began late Friday morning, with several hundred students walking off the campus of Herbert Hoover High School in Glendale. Their march was closely monitored by Glendale Police Department officers who followed the procession, ensuring the students remained on sidewalks, which they largely did.
Additional walkouts occurred in North Hollywood and Van Nuys, with students gathering near Van Nuys City Hall, and another group of students gathered in downtown Los Angeles. Many of the students carried signs denouncing actions of U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement agents, who have been carrying out stepped-up operations in the Los Angeles area since last summer.
“Today, we’re protesting for the rights of our parents, for the people who are scared to leave their houses. Even if we’re a small group, it’s important for us to show up,” a student protesting near Los Angeles City Hall told ABC7.
There were no reports of widespread disruptions caused by the marches, although the Los Angeles Police Department reported via social media that there had been reports from witnesses of “acts of vandalism” involving protesters in the downtown area.
The department urged motorists to exercise caution when driving through the area due to the protests. The downtown action was largely focused on the Civic Center area near the complex of federal buildings, roughly in the area of Los Angeles, Alameda and First streets.
The coordinated walkouts appeared to have been organized through social media. One Instagram post indicated that students at more than 100 schools across the state were taking part in the action.