High school students protested on The Pike Outlets bridge in Long Beach, California, where they danced and chanted, continuing the days of protesting against the recent Trump Administration attacks on immigrants on Feb. 10.
Campuses were closed as they observed President Lincoln’s birthday, but students proceeded with an organized protest.
Students from multiple Long Beach high schools such as Lakewood, Browning, and Jordan, gathered together in protest of the recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) raids.
“I come from undocumented parents and my friends as well, so I’m just out here for my people because illegal deportation is not ok,” said student protestor, Isaick Rodriguez.
Recent actions from the Trump Administration have encouraged ICE raids at “safe havens” such as schools, hospitals and churches, in response, communities have been fearful.
The students started at The Pike Outlets and were led to Long Beach City Hall before coming back to the bridge and continuing their protest.
“I’m from Mexico City and I came to the USA four years ago. I came to Long Beach, I have so much friends with immigrants and they don’t say nothing today, they work and they pay taxes for everybody,” said student protest organizer Kevin Munoz.
LBUSD student Kevin Munoz leads a group dance on the bridge at The Pike, in Long Beach, California. Student protestors gather with flags and signs during the anti-ICE student walkout on Feb. 10. (Sam Villa)
Students approached the bridge with flags while holding signs, encouraging phrases like, “No human is illegal.”
“So I’m here outside to support my people and support my friends,” said Rodriguez.
Protests in Los Angeles County have ranged in sizes as small as five to hundreds of students filling the streets, Long Beach’s reaching to about 20.
Students lined the bridge in their flags and signs, eventually dancing across the bridge to line dance music.
“I wish more people kind of showed up, so we could protest this thing, especially in Long Beach, but I love to see the support and I love seeing my people,” said protestor Yvie Jett.
Students, while fearful, have protested continuously for family and friends in their communities since Feb. 3, which was referred to as “A Day Without Immigrants.”
The original “Day Without Immigrants” was a boycott and protest event meant to communicate the significance of immigration that took place on Feb. 16, 2017.