Hundreds of Olathe East High School students walked out of class Monday afternoon to protest the presence of federal government’s immigration enforcement in their community.
Waving signs with messages “IMMIGRANTS BUILT AMERICA” and chanting, “No justice, no peace, no ICE on our streets,” the students gathered at the four corners of the intersection of 127th Street and Black Bob Road, a few blocks away from school.
Oliver Yeung, a junior and one of the organizers, held a sign reading, “No sign is big enough to list why we r here” but said he organized the walkout because “ICE is plaguing our community.”
“The way ICE is taking immigrants is inhumane,” the other organizer sophomore Chidera Anosike said. “They are just grabbing people off the street and it needs to end.”
Yeung and Anosike said they were unsure how many people would walk out, but were happy with the turnout.
A reporter on the scene estimated that more than 200 students had gathered at the intersection at the event’s peak.
“I’m so proud of my school,” Yeung said. “It’s so amazing to see how many people care about their community and what their future holds.”
“This outcome is amazing, and I love to see my community show up when it matters the most,” Anosike added.
Josie Smotrilla, a junior, waved a sign that read “Hot people melt ICE” in hot pink marker.
She had another message for the immigrants in her community.
“We are for you, and we love you,” she said.
Reactions on the street were generally positive, with many passing drivers honking and cheering.
Towards the end of the gathering, a few dozen students from Pioneer Trail Middle School, which is located on the northwest corner of the intersection, joined the high schoolers.
Other students walked out last week
Monday’s protest followed another Olathe high school walkout on Thursday, in which hundreds of students, mostly from Olathe North and West, left class and gathered at the Johnson County Courthouse.
Olathe Public Schools sent families of students an email before last week’s walkout that read:
“If a student chooses to leave school grounds, we cannot guarantee supervision. In addition, we feel it is important for our parents and guardians to be aware that our standard attendance protocols are followed in the event of a student walkout or protest.”
The email went on to say parents will be alerted if a student is absent and that students would be responsible for missed assignments and tests.
At the Olathe Public Schools Board of Education meeting last Thursday, board member Brad Boyd criticized the email, saying it emphasized consequences and risk too much.
“For some students and families, that emphasis may feel discouraging rather than informative and may unintentionally create a chilling effect on student voice,” he said.
Boyd said he wished that the communications from the district did more to affirm the importance of student civic engagement.
Board members Claire Reagan and Will Babbit said they attended last week’s protest and expressed support for the students exercising civic engagement.
“I was just really blown away by the amount of kids there, the excitement they had for helping each other, for supporting each other, for supporting the community,” Babbit said. “And it was great to see students of all walks of life find their voice, peacefully support each other.”
In a statement to the Post on Friday morning after the first student walkout, Olathe Public Schools spokesperson Erin Schulte said, “In Olathe Public Schools, we value our students’ perspectives and encourage our students to use their voice.”
Students and other community members across Johnson County have been demonstrating over the past several weeks in the wake of the federal government’s immigration enforcement crackdown.
Last month, about 40 Gardner Edgerton high schoolers also protested after being let out early on a Friday. The students shared messages of support for immigrants and protested aggressive immigration enforcement tactics.
High schoolers at Shawnee Mission North are planning a similar demonstration Wednesday.
See additional photos from the walkout below:
