Written by Isaac Villegas, Staff Writer
Hundreds of Poly High School students walk out of their second period to protest against ICE following the events of Alex Pretti’s murder.
On January 24th, 2026, Minnesotan ICU nurse Alex Pretti was shot multiple times and killed by an Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officer after attempting to defend another individual that was facing harassment. This murder took place not even three weeks after the shooting of another Minnesotan citizen, Renee Good, which also sparked public outrage. This case was no different as it was followed by hundreds of cities across the country protesting the extreme and violent ICE enforcement all across the United States of America. Senators were called, streets were closed for demonstrations, and there were even organized school walkouts. Following the major headlines these two public executions brought along with recent local sightings of ICE in the city of Riverside, Poly High school students decided to organize their own walkout on January 29th.
The walkout started at the beginning of 2nd period and ended sometime around the first lunch, or Lunch A, lasting approximately two and a half hours. In addition, there was an unexpectedly huge outcome of a couple hundred students in attendance for the walkout. Many people, including Zeth Leon (12), were surprised to see the sheer amount of students that have been affected or are passionate about recent political events. “That made me very happy and hopeful that there were so many people who are against all the hate that’s happening in our world right now,” Leon states.
This demonstration was mainly coordinated by three students: Aiden Murcray (12), Haley Calabrese (12), and Eris Estrella (10). Murcray explains that the main reason the three of them organized this event was because they were “tired of [ICE’s] presence here in Riverside,” which mainly refers to an ICE sighting on Arlington Avenue at a Target parking lot on January 26th. Calabrese adds to this, preaching that “people shouldn’t be afraid to go out of their homes to go to school” or that “[k]ids shouldn’t be afraid that their parents are gonna get taken away.” When it comes to the actual organizing of such an event, Estrella believes that spreading it around is one of the most important parts. “If you don’t get the word out, then no one’s gonna listen to you,” she says, additionally suggesting that constantly posting on all kinds of media platforms are a great way to get one’s message across.
One of the biggest criticisms about this student-organized protest (and school walkouts in general) is the valid concern of whether or not students are coordinating such a demonstration during school just for an excuse to not attend class. While there may very well be some teenagers that fall into this category, the ongoing events in the U.S. also heavily affect thousands of students, including those at Poly, either personally, emotionally, or both. Because of this it is extremely important to express these frustrations with a group now more than ever, especially in a manner that is prone to receive lots of attention. Kevin Hernandez (11) is one of hundreds of students at Poly that feels this way: “I’m a first-generation and it really affects my family. I’m mostly just doing it for them,” he shares.
Not only did the walkout bring students together with a shared, common goal, but it also validated and inspirited all of those who are afraid and may feel that all is lost. Breeanna Alvarez (12) was one of the photographers present, and she shares that the walkout “is a primary source of what’s going on”; in photographing such an event she is able to show that even teenagers/young adults are able to fight for themselves and advocate for change in the world.
In times such as these where everything may feel hopeless, it is important to remember that you are not alone and there are countless others out there that feel the same way that you do. Junior Zander Hix believes that the hardest part for someone wishing to become more involved in any way they can is to actually start, encouraging that “once you start organizing, you’ll find the support among the people who’s there.”
Overall, every participant of this walkout should feel proud for coming together and making their voice heard. We hope that great change happens soon, but the important thing is to always remember who and what it is you are fighting for and why you cannot give up. We send our deepest love to everyone that has been affected by the terrorizing effects ICE has had on the community. You are not alone.