In San Antonio, Taft High School students joined a nationwide walkout, chanting against ICE and racial hate groups.
SAN ANTONIO — A coordinated national walkout unfolded across the country on Tuesday, with people stepping away from work, school, and daily routines to make their voices heard on political and social issues.
That nationwide movement reached San Antonio this afternoon, where students at Taft High School walked out of class in protest.
“No ICE, no KKK,” students could be heard chanting as they walked together, holding signs and drawing honks of support from passing drivers.
Dozens of students participated in the walkout, many expressing concern about how the current political climate could affect their school and the people within it.
One woman who watched over the protest in support of the students, and asked to remain anonymous, said the walkout was organized by a student.
“Their friends and friends’ families are scared,” she said. “They were having those conversations when coming out. They shouldn’t be out here fighting a battle that adults have created, and they shouldn’t be afraid of losing their family members.”
Northside Independent School District confirmed the walkout in a statement, saying campus administrators monitored the situation and encouraged students to return to class on time.
“The campus estimates that maybe 30 to 40 students with some signs walked to Culebra Road during the lunch period,” the district said in part. “The students remained outside near the road for a short period of time before making their way back inside the building. The students were not disruptive and returned inside after the lunch period.”
The woman overseeing the protest said she believes the movement could continue to grow.
“I think it’s going to spread like wildfire,” she said. “Everybody is tired of it – tired of living like this – and just wants to go home and enjoy the life they should have here in America.”