Neighborhood, Loop protests are part of nationwide 'spring surge to melt ICE'

The intersection at Ashland Avenue and Irving Park Road in Lake View came alive Friday morning as hundreds of students from Lake View High School protested the actions of federal immigration agents across the country. Hours later in the Loop, hundreds of high school and college students from across the Chicago area gathered at Federal Plaza to continue the call.

Students across the city walked out in a national day of protest. Over the last few weeks, Chicago-area high schools have seen an increase in student-led walkouts.

The Lake View High students, many carrying signs and waving flags, marched through the neighborhood and led chants calling for an end to enhanced U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. Passing drivers held signs from car windows in support of the students.

"We're just telling ICE to get out of our streets," said freshman Morgan Andriano. "It's insane the amount of people that have been murdered and have been brutalized from what they call federal agents."

Lake View students have been protesting against ICE since September. Morgan, who helped plan and organize the demonstrations, said Friday marked the school's third and largest protest to date. He said his goal was to tell the world "that this is not right."

"This is not normal," Morgan added. "Don't make it normal."

Students walked out of class during fourth period and met in the school's auditorium to go through safety protocols. Once outside, they were supervised by teachers and community leaders who were organized as a rapid-response team.

Since federal agents began their operations in Chicago, English teacher Rachel Davis has helped coordinate the team overseeing the intersection outside the school at every arrival and dismissal.

"I'm super-proud of them," Davis said. "It just makes me feel better about the future and where we're headed."

The citywide mobilization began later in the afternoon.

By 2 p.m. hundreds of high school and college students from across the city gathered in Federal Plaza in the Loop.

The crowd included students from Columbia College, Nicholas Senn High School, Hubbard High School, Curie Metropolitan High School, Little Village Lawndale High School, Amundsen High School, Chicago High School for the Arts, the School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Wells High School, Von Steuben Metropolitan High School, Kennedy High School and South Shore International College prep.

"We're here at Federal Plaza, across the street is the federal courthouse. You know, these are the places where federal agents can be held accountable," said Lauren Valice, 28, an organizer with Dare to Struggle, a national volunteer group.

The group of volunteers began planning the protest in January, Valice said. Friday's rally is part of the group's "Spring surge to melt ICE," Valice said. From February until April the group intends to continue mobilizing community members to continue building a movement to stop deportations, she said.

"This is the start," Valice said.

The rally featured student-led speeches, with speakers sharing tales of their encounters with immigration agents. Between speeches, the crowd erupted in chants and drummers beat out rhythms to keep the mood going.

Xavier Nondorf, a junior at Senn High School, joined about 50 of his classmates traveling to the Loop from Edgewater.

"We filled up the Red Line, like completely," Xavier said.

Meeting with other students from across the city in the Loop, Xavier said "it's nice to see us united and fight against ICE, organized as a school community, and as a city."