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Protesters hold up various signs criticising ICE and the American government in front of the California Capitol Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Over an estimated thousand protestors showed up to the rally, including over nine high schools and Sacramento community members. (Jack Dann<\/a>)<\/p>\nThe protest began at the steps of the Capitol, where students and other protestors congregated, before the crowd marched down the Capitol Mall toward the John Moss Federal Building.<\/p>\n
Protests have been occurring nightly at the building, the headquarters for ICE and Department of Homeland Security operations in the Sacramento area. The building is also the location of Sacramento\u2019s immigration court.<\/p>\n
Earlier this month, two individuals, Ren\u00e9e Good<\/a> and Alex Pretti<\/a>, were shot and killed by ICE agents in Minnesota, sparking public outcry.<\/p>\n Protests have since surged nationwide following the shootings, while public pressure from prominent politicians such as Gov. Gavin Newsom<\/a> mounts for both DHS Secretary Kristi Noem\u2019s and President Donald Trump\u2019s Chief of Staff Stephen Miller\u2019s resignations.<\/p>\n By the time they had begun to march, the crowd had ballooned into an estimated group of several thousand. As the students passed through the streets, they were joined by older protesters, who shouted words of encouragement.<\/p>\n One of these supporters, Alicia, said she was overcome with emotion as she rallied behind the students.<\/p>\n \u201cThese children have been radicalized by living in today\u2019s U.S.,\u201d Alicia said. \u201cThey\u2019re on the streets because we made them this way. We\u2019ve failed to give them the future they deserve, so now they have to fight for it. They\u2019re doing what the adults ahead of them have failed to do: go out and let their voices be heard.\u201d<\/p>\n Maura Sanford, a special education teacher, attended the protest in support of her daughter, who is enrolled at McClatchy High School. She said they attended the \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest<\/a> in October, and both felt inspired after partaking in an impactful rally.<\/p>\n \u201cI cry almost every night about what\u2019s happening. I am so proud of these kids,\u201d Sanford said. \u201cIt\u2019s up to these kids to make a difference, these future voters.\u201d<\/p>\n RELATED: \u2018No Crowns. No Thrones. No Kings.\u2019 \u2013 50501 Movement Returns to Sacramento<\/a><\/p>\n Sanford said her school district, Folsom Cordova Unified, doesn\u2019t particularly support student walkouts and related it to the way she feels about the government encouraging division.<\/p>\n \u201cI do work in a middle school, and I see the school district not taking care of bullying. They tell the victims to just deal with it, ignore it, whatever. And that\u2019s basically what the administration is saying to us,\u201d Sanford said.<\/p>\n Sanford said she thinks it\u2019s important for Americans to recognize the power they have to change their circumstances.<\/p>\n \u201cWe as Americans, we have the power,\u201d Sanford said. \u201cI have never been a Second Amendment person, but I am now.\u201d<\/p>\n![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/Embed-210-600x400.jpg\")
Special education teacher Maura Sanford poses in front of the California Capitol with her homemade sign of a middle finger made from a seat cushion on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Sanford said she made the sign for the \u201cNo Kings\u201d protest in October, which she attended with her daughter who was also present at the \u201cICE Out\u201d protest. (Delaney Joyce<\/a>)<\/p>\n