Students around LA take a stand
Throughout several school districts in Los Angeles (L.A.) County, including Santa Monica, Long Beach and Pasadena, students of all ages are rising up to protest and speak out against local and national injustices. Recent demonstrations involving students from several different backgrounds show increased youth engagement in political and social issues in their communities.
On Friday, Jan. 30, thousands of high school students gathered at different locations in the L.A. area to condemn the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies. The walkout was one of many within a national shutdown organized by student groups at the University of Minnesota.
On Jan. 24, 37-year-old Alex Pretti was shot multiple times and killed by two ICE officers during a protest in Minneapolis, Minnesota. Pretti was allegedly filming agents and directing traffic before being pepper-sprayed, tackled and subsequently shot by several agents. The DOJ has claimed the lethal shooting was “an act of self defense” in regards to the ICE officers responsible, while other Minnesota officials and citizens have disputed the claim. The organized protests were a direct response to this incident, as well as to a greater frustration with ICE’s immigration raids. Protestors gathered in front of City Hall and rallied at Gloria Molina Grand Park to demand that ICE leave the city. Many students at Samo walked out, including Kaeli Horowitz (’27), who described how the protest at Culver City brought together a community.
“There had to have been at least 500 people there, maybe a couple hundred more,” Horowitz said. “It was really moving and heartfelt to see so many people of all ages, groups and races coming together over a common fear and similar goal of staying strong.”
Samo student Sydney Lippman (’26) also showed her solidarity for the movement by attending the protest.
“I went to the protest near the courthouse, and there were a lot of people there. There were definitely students from school [Samo] and other students not from school,” Lippman said. “I think it was important because students are a part of a community […] and protests are a time when you can speak up for yourself.”
This student mobilization is not only limited to high school students. At Franklin Elementary, second graders led a protest to speak out against Santa Monica-Malibu Unified School District’s (SMMUSD) plans to replace their natural grass field with artificial turf. With second and fifth graders participating in the protest, 162 students signed a petition to oppose SMMUSD’s plan to turn the natural field into turf. Marching across their school track, students held hand-drawn signs and wore green to represent the natural grass.
Overall, recent protests have brought together students in the L.A. area in order to address local and national issues. The student activism displays continued youth involvement within their community.