{"id":157358,"date":"2026-01-31T01:16:14","date_gmt":"2026-01-31T01:16:14","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/157358\/"},"modified":"2026-01-31T01:16:14","modified_gmt":"2026-01-31T01:16:14","slug":"students-from-a-dozen-oakland-schools-walk-out-to-protest-ice","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/157358\/","title":{"rendered":"Students from a dozen Oakland schools walk out to protest ICE"},"content":{"rendered":"

Shortly before 1 p.m., a crowd of students at Fremont High School, in East Oakland, gathered at the entry gate of their school or nervously milled about the courtyard. As the class bell rang, the gate opened, and a couple hundred students poured out of the school, through the parking lot, and out onto High Street.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWalk out! ICE out!\u201d they chanted.\u00a0<\/p>\n

They turned down International Boulevard in the winter sun, carrying flags and anti-ICE signs and repeating chants welcoming immigrants and refugees, before converging in the heart of Oakland\u2019s immigrant community. The walkout was part of a nationwide day of action protesting abuses by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.<\/p>\n

\"ICEHSWalkout-JK-20\"\/Fremont High School students exit through their school\u2019s front gate to join a protest and march against ICE violence on Jan. 30, 2026. Credit: Jungho Kim for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

\"\"Students make a sign before the rally. Credit: Jungho Kim for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

As 2 o\u2019clock approached, the crowd in Fruitvale Plaza grew bigger and bigger as students flowed in from International Boulevard after walking out from around a dozen Oakland schools, from the flats to the hills, including McClymonds High School, Oakland Technical High School, Skyline High School, United for Success Academy, Life Academy, Urban Promise Academy, East Bay Innovation Academy, MetWest High School, ARISE High School, and Oakland Unity High School.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI wanted to come out here today because I have seen on the news that there are a lot of people getting deported and getting separated from their families, and I don\u2019t think that\u2019s right,\u201d said Yoselin Pablo, a sixth grader at Urban Promise Academy. \u201cWe are humans, we are not aliens.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"A Fremont High School student gets a fist bump as he walsk out in support of the general strike opposing ICE. Credit: Jungho Kim for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

\"\"Fremont High students fill the street as they march from their high school to Fruitvale Plaza. Credit: Jungho Kim for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

Ahead of the protest, Oakland Unified School District alerted parents that schools would remain open \u2014 but noted that state law permits middle and high school students one excused absence per year for participating in a political or civic event.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Samantha Roseby, a senior at East Bay Innovation Academy, said she helped to organize the walkout from her school as a protest against injustice. About 40 students from her school in the Oakland Hills made the two-hour trek to Fruitvale.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have to fight back, and it starts with us,\u201d Roseby told The Oaklandside.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Naomi, an eighth grader at Urban Promise Academy, gives a speech at a rally at Fruitvale Plaza in support of the general strike opposing ICE, Jan. 30, 2026. Credit: Jungho Kim for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

\"\"Hundreds of students join the rally at Fruitvale Plaza. Credit: Jungho Kim for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

Dani Zimmerman, an English teacher at Fremont High School, said many of her ninth graders took it upon themselves to organize the walkout after learning about the killings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good in Minneapolis and seeing students there organize a similar demonstration.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThey made signs, they got their peers together, and they planned everything that we did to get here today,\u201d Zimmerman told The Oaklandside. \u201cThis is so true to Oakland.\u201d<\/p>\n

Historically OUSD has educated a substantial number of immigrant students. That number is now at its lowest in 10 years<\/a> \u2014 a steep decline that district officials attribute to federal crackdowns on immigration and the nation\u2019s broader anti-immigrant climate. The number of OUSD students who had just arrived in the U.S. was 22 last fall, compared with 177 in the fall of 2023.<\/p>\n

Ariana Maravill and Sara Cruz, both seventh graders at United for Success Academy, gave a speech together to the crowd gathered in the plaza.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThank you for being here and showing up and fighting for what you believe is right,\u201d they said. \u201cWe have always thought horchata tastes better without ICE.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Oakland small businesses join the strike<\/p>\n

As the students walked out of school, some two dozen Oakland businesses participated in the strike by shutting down for the day, donating all of their proceeds, or offering free services.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe stand in solidarity with all of our neighbors, families, friends, and communities affected by these horrific acts being done across the nation by ICE,\u201d Arizmendi Lakeshore, the bakery at 3265 Lakeshore Ave., wrote in an Instagram post. \u201cIf you are able to attend a demonstration please do. Protect your neighbors.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"\"Instagram posts by Oakland\u2019s Curbside Creamery, left, and Arizmendi Lakeshore, right, which both closed for the strike against ICE on Jan. 30. Credit: Instagram<\/p>\n

Renegade Running, the athletic gear shop at 45 Grand Ave., said it was closing its store Friday \u201cIn solidarity with communities under siege,\u201d but the company would still host Friday runs and walks \u201cto create space to gather and share our thoughts, feelings, and resources on further action we can take in our communities and beyond.\u201d<\/p>\n

Tallboy, the bar at 4210 Telegraph Ave., wrote, \u201cWe opened the question to our team and collectively decided that closing in solidarity is a way to say: Today. Tomorrow and all following days \u2014 this is not okay and we must do better and, finally, ICE out now.\u201d<\/p>\n

Closed:<\/p>\n

Bars & restaurants:<\/p>\n

Shops & services:<\/p>\n

\"\"A student carries a handmade sign at the rally at Fruitvale Plaza. Credit: Jungho Kim for The Oaklandside<\/p>\n

Donating or closing early:<\/p>\n

Bars & restaurants:<\/p>\n

Shops & services:<\/p>\n

Banana Yoga<\/a> \u2013 offering free classes to all students<\/p>\n

Nathan & Co.<\/a> \u2013 donating 10% of proceeds to local immigrants rights organizations<\/p>\n

We\u2019d love to add your business to this list; if you struck on Friday and you\u2019re not listed here, please email us at esther@oaklandside.org<\/a> and we\u2019ll update it.<\/p>\n

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