STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. — Students and parents from Susan E. Wagner High School assembled outside the school gates Thursday afternoon to protest current U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement conduct.
It was one of several protests expected to take place at high schools on Staten Island on Thursday.
The walkout began at 1:18 p.m., when dozens of students left classes with an array of national flags, such as Brazil, Mexico, Peru, Ecuador and Argentina, as well as signs and noisemakers.
Signs displayed phrases such as “You can’t love the culture but hate the people,” “No one is illegal on stolen land” and “ICE out now.”
Susan E. Wagner High School students and parents assembled outside school gates to protest ICE conduct and discrimination.(Nicolette Cavallaro | Staten Island Advance/SILive.com)
“While we understand that political statements are not always welcome at schools, this is a time,” shared Anadina Saladino, a parent and community theater leader. “This is an emergency, and if kids don’t feel safe and supported by their school families they should speak out, and they shouldn’t feel that they’re going to be retaliation. Everyone should be speaking out right now.”
Following the final period today, Wagner High School students organized an anti-ICE walkout around the campus. (Advance/SILive.com | Jan Somma-Hammel)STATEN ISLAND ADVANCE
The large but peaceful group of protesters walked from the main gates of the school to the corner of Brielle Avenue and Manor Road. While standing on a snow-covered hill, they yelled chants regarding the government agency’s treatment of immigrants and alleged discrimination from school staff.
The group then made its way past the school again to Livingston Avenue. The gathering dispersed around 2:30 p.m.
The protest remained peaceful and was overseen by the NYPD, who guided the flow of students and traffic.