Students across Austin are walking out of class Friday as part of a national shutdown to protest federal immigration enforcement.
Hundreds of students from Eastside Early College High School, Kealing Middle School, Crockett High and McCallum High School all walked out to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s presence in Minneapolis and its operations in Austin.
The so-called national shutdown has drawn support from businesses and students across the country. The walkouts in Austin precede a planned rally at the Texas Capitol Friday at 5 p.m.
Eastside student Jayla said she felt compelled to walk out because of the recent killings in Minneapolis of Renee Macklin Good and Alex Pretti, as well as Keith Porter Jr. in Los Angeles. Jayla said she has also heard of Eastside families impacted by ICE activity.
“They're tearing innocent families apart,” the 17-year-old junior said. “They're killing innocent people — and they're just doing a lot. ”
Jayla joined hundreds of students who made the trek from the Capitol grounds, down Lavaca and up to the University of Texas campus. She said she heard about the protest that morning and said her mom supported her decision to walk out.
“This is bigger than school,” she said. “School’s still gonna be there.”
For Eastside senior Eluney, the demonstration was more personal because she knows people who are scared of what's happening.
“It is Austin, and all these kids have families that can be hurt in this situation or people can be taken and separated," she said. "Our school is so united, that it would hurt all of us if one person was taken away. So really it’s just our voices need to be heard and we need to be loud."
Christopher, another senior at Eastside, said the demonstration is proof that his classmates are "finally having our say" in federal policy as they approach the first election where they will be able to cast a ballot.
“It’s important for teenagers to be out on the streets because we’re the next generation that’s gonna have a say in this country, in this world, in this society," he said.
Hundreds of students walked out at McCallum High School just after 1:30 p.m. and planned on arriving at the Capitol to demonstrate by 3 p.m. Crockett High School students also walked out in droves Friday afternoon.
Scores of businesses also joined the nationwide shutdown of businesses, including End of an Ear, Flitch Coffee and Room Service Vintage, among other businesses.
Book People said it wouldn’t close but would donate any profit on Friday to two unions in the Twin Cities area. SJ Thompson, the store’s general manager, said the store wasn’t able to completely shut down in light of this week’s freeze.
“Our logo is a community bound by books [so] we felt like we needed to stand in solidarity with the economic blackout,” they said. “Unfortunately, because of the weather throughout the week, we couldn't afford to close, but we also didn't want to profit off of anything happening today.”
Radio Coffee & Beer also stayed open but said it would donate half of all its profits to American Gateways and the American Immigration Council.
This is a developing story.
