More than 300 students from the Forest Grove High School left the school campus and walked nearly five-miles round trip to the flagpole east of Safeway and back to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Washington County.
News in the Grove has opted to use first names only to protect the identity of students.
Cole, a freshman, was among the hundreds who left class Monday morning to march against the ICE presence in Washington County.
Cole described fears of ICE at bus stops and said a student at a Hillsboro high school had been arrested by federal immigration officers.
"If this keeps going on, I won't feel safe, because my mom's an immigrant, I'm mixed," Cole said.
Cole urged people to speak up about the situation.
Students in Forest Grove as part of a student-led protest against ICE on Monday, December 8. Photos: Chas Hundley
Dulceluna said she was marching to protest ICE and the segregation of the Hispanic community.
"The main reason why we're out today is to protest the injustices in not only our community, but nationwide," she said. "People are being kidnapped, people are being neglected their right to due process," she said.
"The Hispanic community is being segregated," she said.
"I think that's what we're all out here protesting," she said, "not only for our families, but our friends, our community, our doctors, everyone who takes care of us, our entire community, we're all made up of immigrants," she said.
Asked if she believed school administrators supported the student-led walkout, Dulceluna said she believed they did, within their limits as school officials.
"They have always definitely supported us using our voices, supporting our identities, being who we are, and being proud to embrace that, they've been all for that," she said.
She said the walkout had been put together after screenshots planning similar walkouts from several other school districts began circulating in the student body, and that by Friday evening, FGHS students had made the decision to march.
"We are out here spreading awareness, we are out here supporting our community, and we hope everyone who sees us, everyone who reads about this, knows this isn't just a project for a few students, for a couple hundred students, but a project for all of the nation."
Students began their walkout at 10 a.m., Monday, Dec. 8, as rain significant enough to trigger a flood watch in Forest Grove and other areas fell.
Clutching signs and umbrellas, the students risked risked receiving an unexcused absence on their records by participating in the walkout, school staff said.
"In walk-out situations, we are obliged to follow the usual attendance protocols for absences," said Forest Grove High School Principal Brian Burke in a letter to high school families. "Defined by the state, excused absences are for illness, medical/mental health appointments, or family emergencies," he added.
"We always want our students’ voices to be heard and can commend students for wanting to show support for other students and their families, whatever the cause," he said.
"Just to be clear, the walk-out is not a school or district-sponsored event," he added. "Our role is to focus on safety and to provide classes as normal for those who choose not to participate," he said.
Burke said the school's administration had concerns about students walking into the community, among other considerations.
"There is also the emotional pressure students may face in having to make a choice between wanting to show support, but also possibly not feeling safe or comfortable leaving the building for a variety of reasons; they may worry they will be judged one way or another based on their decision," Burke said. "In addition, the truth of the matter in this case is that some of the very students our students want to show support for, do not feel the same level of safety in walking out into the community."
As an alternative, Burke suggested students gather in the school cafeteria.
"There students can talk about the issues they want to discuss, and they can show their support within the safety of our building," he said.
"Administration or supervision can be on hand to answer questions and discuss support that is provided from a school or staff level, and students can give ideas on other ways to show support and be involved," Burke added.
