Ignoring warnings and threats of suspension, dozens of St. Petersburg High School students walked out on February 5th, in protest of ICE (Immigration and Customs Enforcement). Students did this despite multiple messages from school administration discouraging participation in any unapproved campus activities on that date. The walkout, which began during fifth period and lasted the rest of the school day, brought students to the sidewalk in a demonstration that quickly drew a lot of public attention throughout the community. The administration, needing to comply with directives from the Florida Department of Education did not approve the walkout during instructional time on Thursday, February 5th as it violated state mandates but, instead approved a time on Friday, February 6th during non-instructional time which did meet the directives from the FL DOE.
For Eve, a junior that participated in the walkout, it was too important to postpone.
“I personally am a daughter of immigrants and I’ve seen and lived through the struggles of being one. My parents may have their papers now, but people like my dad and mom’s friends are getting locked up in Alligator Alcatraz, which scares me. And what scares me even more are the murders that have happened. I don’t want that to happen to any more of my people. Because no matter the blood, everyone is considered my family.”…