Essex High School (EHS) took to the streets of Essex Junction in a peaceful protest against the United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, February 13th. Several students delivered individual speeches, spreading their perspectives and calls to action within the community.
The EHS Social Justice Union, as well as Students for Justice in Palestine, organized the demonstration. It marks the second walkout planned by the Social Justice Union. In December, students organized a walkout advocating for greater recognition of Black and Brown voices within the community.
(Emily Maguire)
“This is probably one of our biggest protests,” Jacob Ackerman-Demers said, one of the students who spoke at the protest and helped organize it. “We can make as much change as possible.”
The crowd filled Five Corners in support, an even larger turnout than December’s walkout. Students of all backgrounds attended, most standing in solidarity with their peers who could be affected by ICE, and those around the nation who already have.
“It closely affects me, not only through my friends, but it also affects me as a person of a minority,” Ackerman-Demers said. “I myself identify as LGBTQ, and if I can’t stand up for someone else, why do I expect them to stand up for me?”
Bianca De Boulet, a junior at Essex High School, also helped to organize the walkout.
“I am a daughter and granddaughter of immigrants,” De Boulet said. “What’s going on in our country is not okay. Our rights are being violated.”
The demonstration drew attention from local news outlets such as NBC 5 and VTDigger. Guest speakers also attended, including candidate for Vermont state senate, Nikhil Goyal.
“We all deserve to live with dignity and security, and that’s the message I’ve been hearing today,” Goyal said. “We can’t have mothers shot, nurses being executed in cold blood, or children being thrown into cages. It’s just unacceptable.”
The EHS Social Justice Union plans to continue organizing walkouts until they see a clear change within their communities.
“We are all human, and we all need to be seen that way,” De Boulet said. “No one’s illegal.”
