Yesterday, on what had started off as a regular Friday afternoon, a few hundred students left the Milpitas High School (MHS) campus and walked to City Hall in an anti-ICE protest…
The event was organized solely by a group of MHS students who have been saddened and disturbed by the Trump administration’s immigration policies.
“We’re both sons and daughters of immigrants, so it was important to us to speak out and say something,” said Eva, a senior at MHS.
Eva felt compelled to take action after reading about five-year-old Liam Ramos, who was detained by ICE alongside his father last month in Minnesota. (A judge quickly ordered the release of father and son, finding there had been no probable cause to detain them.)
Eva teamed up with a fellow classmate, Christian, and they started coming up with a plan of action. Posting on Instagram about what they were feeling didn’t seem like it was enough.
“We realized that bringing the community together was the best way to do it,” said Eva. “I think this has really brought our school a little closer. It makes me really happy that we got the turnout that we did.”
Eva and Christian got some other students on board, and together they all started to plan the protest. They did some research and found out that there was a law in California requiring schools to give students one excused absence per year for a civic or political event, protests included. The student organizers worked to let other students know how to get their absences excused.
They also called a meeting with the MHS admin, the principal, and the Milpitas Police, in order to make sure everyone was aware of what they were planning.
“It took us about a month to get everything right with the planning,” said Christian, who is a junior at MHS. “We also made sure everyone had water, so no one would pass out.”
News of the protest started spreading across the campus like wildfire. Students from the Innovation Campus, along with Rancho Middle School, also heard about the event and came out in support.
Aldan, a junior at MHS, found out about the protest right before it was set to happen. “I was sitting in class and one of my classmates said that students were doing an anti-ICE protest,” he said.
Aldan decided he would attend and quickly created a sign.
“This country really needs to wake up and see what the big ones above are doing to the little ones,” Aldan said.
Victor, a junior in 11th grade, also helped to organize the walkout and protest. At one point during the walk from the high school, he turned around and saw the huge line of people together, and the sight nearly brought him to tears.
Milpitas High students walk from the school to City Hall.
“It was really beautiful to see,” said Victor. “I have family members who are afraid to come out because they’re afraid to be pulled over and taken wrongfully. So more than anything, I’m doing this for my family.”
The Milpitas Police and representatives from MHS accompanied students on the walk to ensure their safety. At City Hall, students waved signs and cheered as cars drove by, many of them honking their horns. Some waved the Mexican flag from their windows as they passed. At times, the students broke out into chants. The organizers of the protest also got up to speak to the crowd.
Anthony, an MHS senior who was one of the organizers, got up to deliver some impassioned words to energize the students in attendance.
“We all had the same goal – showing the community their own power, showing the community what they could achieve; and that their voice can be heard,” said Anthony. “And that they all have the ability to put their passion into action.”