At 10:50 am on January 30th, during Upper School block 2, over 100 LJCDS students left their classes to participate in the school-wide walkout to protest recent U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies. The school walkout, organized by senior and activist Jax Hirst, involved a march to the football field, the creation of anti-ICE protest signs, and a speech by Hirst on ICE’s recent behavior and the meaning of the LJCDS school walkout.

Hirst shared, “We stand with those whose families have been torn apart and whose lives have been upended by ICE… What we say now will make a difference and we must make that change now before it’s too late, before we are no longer able to speak up for what’s right.”

On Friday, January 30th, students and citizens nationwide joined in the “ICE Out of Everywhere” National Shutdown, organized by protesters from Minneapolis, MN. Following the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti – protesters killed by ICE agents on January 7th and 24th – the nation erupted in outrage against ICE policies, leading to the organization of the National Shutdown on the 30th. The Shutdown aimed to stop the economy for a day, illustrating consumer outrage to the US government to encourage a halt to ICE funding. According to the website set up by organizers, the plan was to pause purchasing nationwide, stop the functioning of everyday activities such as school and work, and organize protests around the country. The Shutdown was a massive success, with over 300 protests organized nationwide, including in San Diego.