Students from high schools and middle schools across Lake County are continuing to walk out of class this week to protest federal immigration enforcement and the Trump administration.
Students from Mundelein High School, John T. Magee Middle School and Round Lake Middle School walked out of their schools on Thursday to protest federal immigration enforcement, like ICE.
Students from both Warren Township High School campuses in Gurnee and students from Barrington High School also had walkouts on Tuesday.
The Mundelein High School students walked out at the start of 8th period and went down Hawley Street to Kracklauer Park before walking back up Route 45.
“We do this work for all the people,” a Mundelein High School student said in her speech at the park. “These immigrants make sure you have a place to work, sleep, and eat,” she said.
Students waved flags and held signs like “ICE OUT 4 GOOD,” “DOWN WITH TRUMP,” and “We are not ALIENS We are HUMANS.”
“I’m just here for my family and to show support that everyone here is not illegal,” a Mundelein High School student told a Lake & McHenry County Scanner reporter.
Another student, who follows politics, said that while she is not directly affected by the federal immigration enforcement, she knows people around her who were affected, which motivated her to participate in Thursday’s walkout.
“I feel like we live in a community with a lot of immigrants and a lot of people who have come here to make their life better,” a Mundelein High School student said. “Us walking out is us representing them.”
“What history tells us is that this was land that already had people in it, and people came in, stole the land, and I feel like now they’re trying to do that again by not allowing immigrants here when I feel like immigrants have provided so much for this community – not only just Mundelein but everywhere around the world,” she added.
Mundelein High School Principal Dr. Alexandria Rios Taylor said in a letter to the community that the school was already made aware of Thursday’s walkout before it happened.
“At MHS, we are committed to developing engaged citizens who understand their rights and responsibilities in a democratic society, while remaining committed to providing a safe, respectful learning environment for all students,” Taylor said.
The principal made clear that the walkout was not school-sanctioned or approved and that students who leave class will be marked absent.
She encouraged students to carefully discuss their decision to participate in the walkout, understand the importance of staying peaceful and recognize that all students have the right to their own beliefs.
Mundelein High School officials coordinated with Mundelein Police, who were present at Thursday’s walkouts to provide traffic control and ensure the safety of the students.
The protests follow a trend across the country of students organizing their own walkouts to protest against federal immigration enforcement and the Trump administration.
On Monday, hundreds of students from the Grayslake North, Grayslake Central, Round Lake, Crystal Lake Central and Wauconda high schools walked out.
Warren Township High School officials said that a group of students from both the O’Plaine and Almond campuses walked out towards the end of the school day.
“While there are differences in opinions, perspectives, and beliefs surrounding this issue, at Warren Township High School we acknowledge these differences while maintaining our core values of being respectful to each other as friends, neighbors, and Blue Devils,” they said.
Students from schools across Lake and McHenry counties are continuing to organize walkouts in the coming weeks.