{"id":184743,"date":"2026-02-19T15:59:12","date_gmt":"2026-02-19T15:59:12","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/184743\/"},"modified":"2026-02-19T15:59:12","modified_gmt":"2026-02-19T15:59:12","slug":"sacramento-students-protest-following-recent-shootings-in-minneapolis-the-express","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-ca\/184743\/","title":{"rendered":"Sacramento students protest, following recent shootings in Minneapolis. \u2013 The Express"},"content":{"rendered":"

Thousands of Sacramento students congregated at the steps of the state Capitol on Jan. 30 to protest recent federal immigration enforcement action following deadly shootings in Minneapolis.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Student organizers at C.K McClatchy High School first began informing fellow students about the walkout on Jan. 27, via social media. It originated as a McClatchy exclusive walkout, but eventually grew to include campuses throughout the districtwide.<\/p>\n

Sacramento City Unified School District Board of Education president, Tara Jeane, sent out a notice to parents stating that \u201cSacramento City Unified does not organize or endorse student protests; we do respect the rights of students to participate and freely express themselves in a manner that is both civil and safe,\u201d maintaining that this is solely a student-organized walkout.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Many students left after their second period, taking the light rail to the Archives Plaza stop, then walking the rest of the way to the Capitol building. Student coordinators made maps for students at each school in attendance of the walkout, which they distributed via social media.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cThis is a peaceful walkout demonstration to show that the students in California\u2019s capital do not stand with ICE,\u201d McClatchy High junior and one of the primary student organizers, Michael Heffron, told The Sacramento Bee.\u00a0<\/a><\/p>\n

Once at the state Capitol, students quickly gathered on the steps of the Capitol building, giving speeches. Many included variations of one general message \u00a0\u2014 that the youth in Sacramento refuse to stay quiet on immigration customs wrongs, and that no one should be taken from their homes. Several school leaders who gave speeches gave direction to fellow students to cooperate, communicating composedly and maturely with local law enforcement, including California Highway Patrol officers who attended the protest in civilian clothing.\u00a0<\/p>\n

In addition to the speeches, many students shouted \u201cICE out now!\u201d and \u201cKeep them out!\u201d In addition to the shouts protesting Immigration and Customs Enforcement, some counter-protesters participated in chanting, \u201cCome here legally or not at all!\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

As well as many students, many Sacramento adults came to protest. Pastor John Haug of St. John\u2019s Lutheran Church attended the walkout, protesting outside of the John Moss Federal building.<\/p>\n

\u201cI feel good supporting the youth, who have the right of every citizen, which is to use their voice for what they believe in,\u201d Haug said. He added that he was proud of the youth for standing up for what they believe in and \u201cusing their constitutional right to protest.\u201d Haug was holding a sign that said: \u201cYouth can make America have heart again.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Many people stood silently, holding signs and observing student speeches. In addition to this, many chose to remain anonymous and only give first names or aliases, some even covering their faces to avoid being seen by local police or reporters.\u00a0<\/p>\n

This included Kurt, a local veteran. \u201cI was excited to hear about our youth leading this effort to lend their voice to let them [general population] know about Donald Trump and ICE, all of those who are involved with this incredibly cruel effort to strip away our rights and dignity of our neighbors. I\u2019m very proud of them, and I want to stand in solidarity of them. \u2026 This is not the country I enlisted and fought for.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Some local citizens handed out water and snacks to keep protestors hydrated and energized. Others handed out signs exhibiting anti-ICE sayings, helping make sure everyone had the supplies they wanted. Margot, 28, was one of these citizens.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ve been a community organizer for years and I am really frustrated by [how] our local and state government are not taking the measures that they need to right now to protect us from the onslaught of federal enforcement from ICE,\u201d Margot said. \u201cI think, unfortunately, there is only a matter of time before this violence escalates.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

Margot detailed having been to many protests and walkouts before, but this being her first student organized walkout she attended.\u00a0This protest was organized by local students due to personal \u201coutrage of the regime of terror that ICE has instituted over our nation,\u201d said student organizer Louis Russell to Brown Issues news.<\/a> \u201cWe want to show the people of America that the young people of Sacramento will not sit back and do nothing when our democracy is threatened.\u201d<\/p>\n

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\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\tPeople gather in protest of ICE at the Cesar Chavez Plaza on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026, in Sacramento, Calif.\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/p>\n