A Spartan Point of View: In which North Springs students express their views about issues of concern to them. This week’s topic: The student protest held today.
“If I had to describe this protest in one word, it would be rejuvenating because seeing all those people and saying those chants together was just what this world and school needed. It was so cold, you could see your breath turn into a smoke or fume, but your heart would be warm being with all of those people. We were united as one, fighting for the same thing, justice. We chanted, walked, and cheered together, and it was rejuvenating.
‘The people untied will never be divided!!’
‘No ICE, no KKK, no racist USA!!’
‘Keep ICE off our streets, we want peace!’
‘No more ICE!!’
‘Melt the ICE!!’
Those are only a few of the amazing chants we said as a people.”
-M.B.
“How I felt about the ice protest at NSHS I liked what happened. [I]wish we had more time during the march seeing all the posters and boards and us screaming. People were honking; it was good. I want people to know that we speak to the people that get silent everywhere, the march was beautiful, a lot of teens protested for what’s right. I feel like some people got educated that day and learned something new. I love that schools around the world are protesting too. It’s justice and power; we are all humans and we may look different but were all humans. I really enjoyed us just being there despite it being cold, it was amazing too. We are all HUMAN.”
-L.B.
“I believe the walkout inspired many people to speak up against the negativity and discrimination that exist in our world. While some adults argue that students should not participate in protests and should instead focus only on education, students cannot be educated if they are harmed, imprisoned, or forced to leave the only country they know. The actions taken by ICE agents are deeply troubling and highlight how cruel and unjust our system can be toward immigrants. Protesting helps bring awareness to these issues and moves us one step closer to justice for immigrants who came here seeking safety and a better future for themselves and their families.”
-A.S.
“I believe that the student planned protest against “I.C.E” was a great opportunity to spread awareness about the inhumane actions that are currently being committed. The protest was not about politics, but about humanity. Adults, children, neighbors, and co-workers are living in fear everyday, worrying about whether they will go home to their family or even see another day. Why is it that only some people are granted liberty and justice when it is supposed to be applied to ALL humans? The students at North Springs High School united not as scholars, but as friends and took action to voice the truth and bring as much change as possible to a bigger issue. I believe that “I.C.E” should be away from our schools, homes, and America as a whole.”
-G.N.
“I feel that the walkout organized at North Springs was a good step in the right direction, but not particularly enough in any real way.
Most importantly to me, protests need to do something. I was more supportive of the original plan, as it actively disrupted the school day and actively inconvenienced people that have more power to make changes than we do as students. If we aren’t hurting someone’s pockets, what are we doing at all? Walking around a block with signs?
It’s also frustrating to see the constant use of the word “respectful” by school boards. There isn’t a single thing respectful about the United States gestapo kidnapping, torturing, and killing civilians. Why should we be respectful?
Alongside that, I’m disappointed with the decision made to move the protest time to a point where many students weren’t able to attend. My bus consistently rolls in around 8:10-15, how am I supposed to join the protest when it’s before many students even get to school?
Despite my grievances, I don’t want it to seem like I thought the protest itself was an actively bad or harmful idea. It was great to see people organizing civil acts to protest these atrocities. Every single thing that we can do as youth and as students to stand up against ICE and our current leader is necessary. We just need more, in one way or another.
-C.M.
Samples of posters promoting the student protest were hung in building halls following the agreement between student organizers and the administration.
