Just before 1:40 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9, Students for Political Action club (SPA) organized a peaceful protest outside the high school to raise awareness following the death of Renee Nicole Good, an unarmed woman who was killed on Jan. 7 in Minneapolis by an ICE officer. Students gathered in the school parking lot holding signs in support of immigrant families. 

SPA secretary and publishing editor Miles Johnston (12) said the group began discussing a protest of sorts immediately after learning of the shooting.

“The night the woman was killed in Minneapolis by the ICE officer we started talking about it in the board’s group chat,” Johnston said. “We all felt like we needed to do something.”

Club members divided different responsibilities, including delivering speeches or documenting the event through photos and videos. Several students spoke about the treatment of immigrants and the impact of immigration enforcement on families.

At the walkout, speaker Tania Dijagah (12) addressed accusations often made against immigrants, families separated by deportation and her own experience as a child of immigrant parents.

Jessica Mielock (12), another student speaker, discussed the fear and pain felt by many in the community.

“It’s so hard because I love our community and I want to love my country, but I can’t when they’re taking our people away,” Mielock said.

Organizers said the protest aimed to humanize immigrants beyond political debate and emphasize that they deserve the same respect and dignity as anyone else, regardless of race or background.

Olivia Shumake (9) held a sign reading “Education Not Deportation,” advocating for students who immigrated to the U.S. 

“I know a couple of students who got deported this year, and it’s so horrible,” Shumake said. “It’s really hurtful to not see the president stand up against criminal actions and instead dismiss them and move on,”.

Many club members were surprised by how many people came and participated. They were not expecting as many students to show up. Speaker Hendrix Domangue (11) said she felt relieved seeing how many students came to support the cause. During her speech, she shared her fears for her family and what could happen to them for not being white.

“People genuinely came to listen,” Domangue said.

Principal Ashley Schwarzbek expressed her support for the demonstration, emphasizing students’ constitutional right to free speech.

“I don’t want students to be harmed or penalized for expressing their political beliefs,” Schwarzbek said.