Students Demand Action (SDA), a club at Abington Friends School, organized and planned a walk-out in support of families and individuals affected by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in our area. The club held meetings in the weeks leading up to the walk-out to have conversations, plan logistics, and spread awareness.
SDA was the leading club behind the walkout, but it was supported and endorsed by other school clubs such as Black Student Union (BSU), Asian Coalition, Middle East and North African (MENA) Affinity Group, Hispanic or Latine Affinity (HOLA), Women’s Empowerment, and Morgan’s Message.
The walk-out was publicized by word of mouth from students, as well as shared on Instagram through posts, reposts, and stories. Students were instructed to keep the event on the down low; the goal was for as little administration and teacher involvement as possible.
The walk-out happened directly after morning assembly on Tuesday. Students were directed towards the Tyson House, and then further to the AFS sign on the corner of Washington Lane and Greenwood Ave.
Students held handmade signs, with slogans such as “ICE out” and “America was built on ‘aliens,’” chanted messages, and blasted Bad Bunny through a megaphone.
“[I am here] to protest the activity across the US right now involving ICE and immigration,” said Kate Timmer ‘27.
Una Davis ‘26 said, “This feels like we’re living in the Hunger Games… ICE out right now.”
The demonstration was clearly appreciated by the community: cars honked in support, pedestrians passing by cheered with the students, and even Jenkintown residents came out onto their front steps to show their support.
Director of the Upper School, Brendon Jobs, delivered a message to the student body prior to the walk-out, addressing student concerns about ICE coming to campus and the protocol that would be followed in the event of that happening.
The walk-out was not in protest of the AFS administration, but rather in support of the affected students, scared families, and individuals in our community who are at risk because of the actions and intentions of ICE.
Natalie Kovalenko ‘26, clerk of SDA, delivered a message at the end of the walk-out, saying “Thank you, everyone, for showing up; you did a big part by showing up…we are stronger together as a class, as an institution… We didn’t do this for the administration, we did this for us.”
Reflecting on the protest, HOLA clerk Dean Sadowski ‘27 said, “ICE is not necessarily a bad thing…But we have people in Minneapolis that are dead, we have deported American citizens that we have to bring back… this aggression is very problematic to me.”
With ICE activity in Minnesota winding down, according to Border Czar Tom Homan, it is unclear where ICE’s next target will be. It is clear, however, that they would face heavy opposition.
Sadowski had one final message: “The violence [ICE] meet[s] us with, we can’t also meet them with… We need to bring peace and bring love.”
Cadence Carson • Mar 10, 2026 at 10:49 am
Participating in the walk-out at Abington Friends School was a powerful and high-engery experience that shifted the perspective of AFS. As the community gathered at the corner of Washington Lane and Greenwood, you noticed students and staff embracing how much they cared for this subject matter. Standing there with handmade signs while Bad Bunny was blasted through the megaphone created a sense of collective purpose that you just don’t get to witness during a normal school day. Seeing the majority of the Upper School participating, cars honking, and neighbors walking outside of their houses in Jenkintown cheering from their porches, really validated why we were out there and made the cause feel so much bigger than just a regular campus event. Since the protest, the school’s atmosphere has felt way more “awake.” There’s this newfound sense of student agency, we proved we could organize something massive on our own to support families and classmates who are terrified of ICE. I definitely think students should have the right to protest what they believe and stand for. Education isn’t just about sitting in a classroom, it’s about learning how to use our voices.
Ezra Sileshi • Mar 10, 2026 at 8:53 am
This walk-out meant a lot to me. My parents were born in East Africa, so I had a greater personal connection to immigration than watching it on the news. I am grateful to see that so many students came together immediately after assembly to show their support for families that might be feeling fearful/uncertain at this time; it shows how caring our community is towards each other. To me, what stands out most is how many different clubs & affinity groups worked together to organize & support the protest. The kind of unity we saw reflects some of the values that AFS talks about, such as standing up for people in our community. Additionally, seeing neighbors honk and cheer as they drive by makes the message go beyond our school. While people may have different perspectives on immigration policy, moments like these show that students at AFS will speak out & stand with members of our community who may be impacted by immigration policy.
Precilla Tapia • Mar 9, 2026 at 8:58 pm
This walkout was very powerful and moving. It demonstrated students’ opinions on immigration and their support for immigrant communities. Even if someone didn’t participate in the walkout, it still affected everyone because students were sharing how they felt about this situation. It made it feel like the day was different from a normal school day, where people actually spoke up. I think that no matter the school, students should always be able to protest about what they think is right, so they can share and fight for their opinions and rights. Since the walkout, though i feel like everyone’s aware of the situation now and it’s being thought about more than before.
Henry Goldstein • Mar 6, 2026 at 1:58 pm
We do a lot of things as an upper school, but the walkout felt special to me because it was 100% organized and executed by students. The walkout is something that felt forced or inauthentic. I think it is amazing how so many students are so passionate about this issue that we were able to come together all on our own. Aside from the issue we were protesting, the experience itself was very fun for me, and I like that we engaged in chants and made signs for the walkout. I think we felt especially empowered because we had cars that passed by that honked to show their support, which I think strengthened our message and our will.
Helene • Mar 6, 2026 at 1:52 pm
Protesting is such an important response to inequality. Seeing AFS coming together over a shared concern of the ICE raids was truly impactful. I’ve been to a couple of protests, but being at one surrounded by other AFS students was really special. It’s easy to feel like you’re the only one who cares, but walking with pretty much the entire school, it became clear that AFS wanted to make their voices heard. I really enjoyed reading the signs and seeing the response from drivers as they passed us.
Anais Melzer-Surkan • Mar 6, 2026 at 1:16 pm
I felt empowered and useful during the walkout, like I was finally taking action and doing something. It felt really good to be appreciated by cars and pedestrians passing. I felt seen and supported and it only farther encouraged my feeling that we were doing something good. We were creating change. I was really happy about how many people shoed up. I think students should have a right to plan protests and act on them. We may be young now but we will be adults soon and it is so important to speak up about what you believe in. It made me feel really good and it was a moment I could share with my peers. I feel like the walkout unified us and I realized that people do care and there are thing you can do to make yourself heard.
Neiko Savior • Mar 6, 2026 at 9:53 am
I had an amazing time at the walkout. At first I felt nervous and embarrassed for somereason but then I eased out as soon as cars started honking and supporting our protest. This is my first protest, I think, and I had a lot of fun protesting with others and my friends. I do think students should have the right to protest at school, and I think we are lucky that our school supports our protests. I’ve seen a couple of schools where they don’t support the walkout, and the administration has given them harsh punishments. I don’t think the atmosphere has changed much since the protest, except maybe like the commons. I feel like students are more comfortable at school a little bit.
Malea • Mar 5, 2026 at 8:34 pm
During the protest, I felt a sense of enragement as well as passion to scream and let my voice be heard. During moments like these, I don’t feel like I care who is judging me and who is around, I want to bring awareness to situations that need attention. I let out a few chants during it because of this feeling I had, and I felt overcome by the emotions that I just wanted to express them as loud as I could. Before it happened it felt like students were being ridiculed and encouraged at the same time to share our voices. Something that frustrates me is that AFS advocates for self expression and having the willingness to stand up for what is right but in times that students take action there is a problem about it. Many teachers had comments and opinions after the walkout took place as they blamed the students for being behind schedule and participating in it. It felt like for the rest of the week there was tension between the students and teachers for missing so much class as we had days off beforehand. I think overall it was a really good turn out and even though I wish we could’ve done more or gotten the attention of representatives we showed our support anyway and people on the street were willing to engage with us.
Molly M Taylor • Mar 5, 2026 at 4:48 pm
I was involved in most of the planning of the walkout, and I am extremely grateful for the many students came together to protest against ICE. As a student, and a person who is unable to vote, it often feels that I do not have a say in what is going on in the world. Although in many cases, my singular voice is unable to make much of a difference on a global standpoint, the act of many friends schools coming together in a series of protests clearly made a bit of a difference, at least in disrupting the current flow to bring attention to the lives lost and detained by ICE. It is easy, especially if you are not being personally effected by ICE, or if you do not live in a state effected by ICE, to ignore what is going on, and move on through your regular life. I feel that our walkout, along with the many other Friends Schools walkouts was a disruption at the very least. It caused people to pause, or honk, or even just think about the horrific impact ICE has had on our community. I feel that after both the remembrance of lives lost in MFW and after the walkout, the schools atmosphere had a shift, it was empowering but also fragile, as the walkout was extremely thought provoking for many peoples.
Nalani • Mar 10, 2026 at 9:24 am
Read “Students Walk Out in Protest of ICE.”Links to an external site. – I totally agree molly. As someone who also can not vote yet it can feel as if theres nothing I can do about the things that are going on in the world. Its easy to feel helpless. Moments like the walk out or the meeting for worship honoring the lives that had been lost are moments where I feel as if change could really happen. Especially in the planing of it. Its inspiring and hopeful to see everyone together putting hard work into something that could make a difference.
Natalia • Mar 5, 2026 at 2:07 pm
I was a minor part in helping get the protests up on its feet, and I’m nothing but proud of how it turned out. My class was the original class that really pushed for this to happen, and it was interesting getting to see how we could protest against something so negative in our world, and do it in a way that was respectful and positive. I’m really hoping that we get to have more of these protests, especially considering how powerful our voice can be as a student body sometimes. Seeing everyone come together across all grades to protest against ICE was a feeling that can’t be described, and to be frank, I would love for more of that feeling. I suppose I would just ask that we don’t let this rebellion die here. We saw how much of an impact a smaller scale walkout was, so why should we just stop there?
Makayla Littles • Mar 5, 2026 at 8:52 am
I loved the walkout! I really appreciate SDA for organizing. It was quite ironic too because the week prior, I was just conveying to my friends that the students should do a walkout. The walkout made my heart warm because it was nice to see that so many people in our community care. I felt so inspired to see everyone’s poster. It made me feel hopeful for the future that one day all of this will come to pass. It made me not feel alone in my feelings around this issue. I love Dean’s quote that was included at the end of the essay. We do indeed need to bring peace and love. Ice is formed around hate, and the opposite of hate is love. Nonviolent protest should continue in order to bring peace, in order for no more lives to be lost. Students should have the right to stage a protest at school because I believe that we can be better protected here. Additionally, I think it is something more impactful about students doing a protest at school. I think it forces society to listen because I think that students being in school reminds society that we are the upcoming generation, and we are not going for any of this mess!
Adalyn • Mar 5, 2026 at 8:39 am
This protest was truly amazing and was a great show of how much the student body really cares about issues as big as this. My experience during the walkout was really powerful and great to be a part of. Even though I wasn’t part of the planning process, just showing up and seeing all the other students who also showed up to support was really a great experience.
I think that students should have the right to protest issues that feel important to us. AFS is always preaching about how we should stand up for ourselves and that we should do what’s right for the community even if not many people are doing it. So we should be able to protest.
Aarohi Sanathara • Mar 4, 2026 at 8:53 pm
I was a big part in planning the ICE walkout, but also a part of planning a remembrance during MFW a few weeks ago that held the name of ICE victims in the light. A few days after the walkout, I saw a TikTok of a lady driving by and the text said that “On my way to work this morning, I saw students from Abington Friends School standing outside in the cold, protesting against ICE. There’s still hope for the future.” This TikTok proved to me that what we did had a real effect. Our history teachers’ lessons on advocacy and overthrowing the system came to fruition in this moment. Being someone who is deeply affected by ICE near us right now, seeing so many of my peers stand outside in the cold to advocate for a heavy, mature topic reignited my drive. I am so grateful that I got to be a part of this regardless of the outcome, we have a voice to use and I glad we used it for an important issue like ICE.
Ella • Mar 4, 2026 at 2:55 pm
After the walkout, my advisory held a debriefing session to unpack how we felt about the events that took place. I had a really hard time placing my emotions towards it, but the longer I sat in the silence, the more the feeling settled in my chest, and I could finally recognize it as pride. At AFS, we learn a lot about peacemaking. In our history classes, we learn about figures like Martin Luther King and Gandhi, who practiced non-violent action and civil disobedience, and in that moment, I felt the pride of knowing that we are learning from what AFS is teaching us and we’re acting on it. During the walkout, I felt nervous about teachers being upset, but seeing many faculty members there and taking photos helped me register that this may have been a moment of pride for them as well. We, students, are not going to remember every lesson or historical fact we learn at AFS, but I think that in that moment of protest, it proved to the faculty that something that they have taught us has stuck.
Anjali Tremblay • Mar 4, 2026 at 2:46 pm
This is a great article; I really appreciate coverage of this topic. I had a very positive experience of the walkout. I was near the front of the group as we walked out, and at first, I was worried there wasn’t going to be a huge show of support for the walkout which wouldn’t make so much of an impact. However, the walkout turned out to feel a lot more impactful than I expected. The majority of the student body attended. Personally, I appreciated the line of teachers that stood in the parking lot especially. To me, it felt as though they were both supporting us and seeing us but also recognizing that it was a student event. They both respected our right to protest and showed their respect for the cause. The most impactful part of the protest was the reaction we got from cars driving by on Washington Lane. Cars showed their support, a woman across the street stood outside of her house for half an hour in solidarity, and some SEPTA buses even honked their horns. I know that protests I have seen have made an impact on me, and I was empowered to know that the people driving by would be affected by what they had seen. Maybe it would inspire them to have a conversation with their family about ICE, or donate to a family in need.
Radha Airan-Javia • Mar 4, 2026 at 2:45 pm
I was involved in both the walkout and the planning process. The walkout, a community event, felt unifying and healing. It was great to see the community come together in support of the people who have been unfairly hurt and impacted by ICE’s recent actions. I think that students should always have the right to protest against social injustice in a peaceful and respectful manner. Peaceful protest is a right, and it should not be denied to anyone. It breaks my heart to see protesters, even young student peaceful protesters, being met with violence when all they are doing is exercising their constitutional rights.
zhaoye wang • Mar 4, 2026 at 1:24 pm
this protest is amazing. maybe a month before, i saw the news about ice and i am too clear about what this organization to us. as an international student, this is almost the most important thing. also, this kind of secret police leaved a deep memory to most socialism country.
if a police could enter your house without any paper and they are given the right to arrest to deal with people who they caught. what will happen? the result is everywhere among the history. so, the protest is really great. student get together to fight for our goal, even to protect sombeday we even never meet before. this open mind is worth to prasing.
in the end, i agree with the Sadowski had one final message: “The violence [ICE] meet[s] us with, we can’t also meet them with… We need to bring peace and bring love.” we just studied the non violent action. violence is what ice is good at but not us. we should find our advantages to solve such events.