Hundreds of DGN and DGS students conducted a walkout to protest the actions of U.S Immigration and ICE Tuesday, February 10 at 12:41 p.m.. The turnout was arguably more sizable than expected, with hundreds of students packing downtown Downers Grove. Although many participated, various others did not. Each student has a unique perspective on the situation, participants and non.
“I felt like it gave me a way to voice my opinion and speak out for people that need it that aren’t able to,” senior Brianna Baker said.
The minute fifth period ended, students who chose to protest began to exit the school and make their way to downtown Downers Grove. At about 1:00 p.m., twenty minutes after the DGN students had left campus, DGS students arrived downtown and joined. With students from both schools, the protest involved several hundred students.
“Many people showed out and helped spread the word about the cause. Popular news channels even came and the coverage was shown on people’s televisions at home,” senior Alexa Gallardo said.
Before this walkout, another protest addressing the same issue was scheduled during the school day, as well, but it did not attract the same outcome as this one did. While only a handful of people participated in the first gathering, the second one couldn’t have been any more different.
“I heard that there was a bigger show out than most people were expecting, at least compared to the first one that happened when only like ten people were there,” senior Evan Jeschke said. “I was in a classroom with windows that could see out to Main Street, and I did see a significant amount of people which kind of surprised me.”
Many students had signs, chants, shirts and more to bring attention to immigration enforcement policies that have become present in the US. Numerous students that were present in the protest claimed they were active to not only raise awareness, but also support immigrant families.
“It is also important to me as the daughter of an immigrant, and as a person with empathy, to speak out against the inhumane treatment of immigrants,” junior Vivian James said.
While the outcome was big, more students chose not to protest than those who did. Reasons like course assessments, disciplinary infractions, political views, and safety concerns were all reasons that contributed to decisions to not participate.
“I chose not to protest because I actually had a math quiz that day while the protest was gonna happen,” junior Pravani Torlikonda said. “I wanted to prioritize my academics so I didn’t go.”
Another demotivator for students were the repercussions that would occur if people left campus without permission or had at least one unexcused absence. An email, sent out days before the planned walkout, by District 99 Superintendent Dr. Hank Thiele stressed the possible consequences by referencing the student handbook.
“I did not participate in the walkout. My parents had safety concerns and weren’t okay with me missing school. I also didn’t have time to make up any detentions,” senior Julia Heisler said. “I do believe that it was for a good cause, it just wasn’t in the cards for me to be able to do that.”
People who chose not to participate did so for reasons that aligned with their own beliefs, rather than because of tests or consequences.
Some simply don’t support the issue at hand being protested, and others don’t support the idea of planning a walkout in the middle of a school day.
“I think it’s important to be in school,” Jeschke said. “I do think that student protest is a valid way to express opinions, but at the same time, it’s not always appropriate to disrupt the learning environment.”
To maximize awareness of the situation at hand, students purposefully timed the protest to begin half way through a regular eight-period school day.
“Maybe doing it on a day that we don’t have school or after school. Just some time that doesn’t necessarily disrupt other people’s learning,” Jeschke said.
While many students seemed to support the action of walking out, there are other ways to protest that are less impactful on other people’s experiences. Specifically those who are not choosing to participate.
“Social media and spreading awareness online is probably one of the best ways to not only spread awareness but also raise your voice because it’s one of the most mainstream ways that people communicate now,” Torlikonda said.
Whether you participated in the walkout or not, chances are you heard about it because of the attraction it gained. Although there were disciplinary consequences for those involved that violated a school rule, the district voiced their consensus of “respecting the constitutional rights of students”. It was their way of motivating students to prioritize academics over choosing to walk out during the school day.
“I think it’s important to be in school and especially with the district’s new policy about showing up every day and being in class,” Jeschke said. “Also, I feel like there wasn’t something significant enough for me, in my belief set, that would make me either oppose or go along with the protest.”
Needless to say, the walkout received some attention and it was a day many students and teachers will remember. Whether people choose to support one side of the issue, the other side, or somewhere in between, they all share a common ground of knowing that their choices affect both their peers and the district.
“I know that in the north community there are people who have family or were personally affected by the stuff that ICE has done,” Torlikonda said. “I think the fact that people our age are able to raise their voice is really important.”
