On Friday January 30th, hundreds of SHC students joined a massive wave of Bay Area youth and workers walking out of schools and businesses to protest federal immigration enforcement. The demonstration, centered at Mission Dolores Park, was part of coordinated national action following the recent ICE activity throughout the United States. The primary catalysts for the protest were the recent deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Pretti, a 37-year-old intensive care nurse, was fatally shot by ICE for holding a phone and recording. Good, also 37, was shot on January 7th by an ICE agent while inside her vehicle. These incidents, coupled with more reported fatalities in federal custody, including farmworker Jaime Alanis, have fueled a surge in anti-ICE sentiment across the country.
The walkout began at noon, calling in students from across the city who ultimately converged at the park. While the rally was a local effort, it followed Minnesota’s “blueprint” of solidarity that recently drew 50,000 participants with its powerful slogan: “No work, No school, No shopping.”
Friday’s protest extended beyond SF high-schoolers; dozens of local businesses, including the Roxie theater and many North Beach restaurants, closed their doors for the day to support the strike’s goal of disrupting commerce. For student organizers, the disruption was the point. SHC’s Isabel Murray ‘26 mentioned that, to her, “the walkout was less about skipping class and more focused on disrupting our daily lives and those of others to make a point.” She also commented that, “It’s very hard to ignore a three block mass of young people chanting ‘ICE OUT,’ even if they want to.” The walkout represents a way for students to take action with the resources they have.
Aniyah Zachery, a senior at KIPP and one of the youth organizers, echoed this sentiment. She ecstatically noted, “It felt empowering to be surrounded by people my age who weren’t afraid to speak up or show their support…The energy at the walkout showed how meaningful it can be when students come together for a shared purpose instead of staying silent.” As the column of students streamed into Mission Dolores Park, the atmosphere came alive with drum circles and hand-made signs. For many, the act of protest itself was a reminder of civic duty, characterized by a popular chant: “Show me what democracy looks like! This is what democracy looks like!” SHC student Kaylin Lesh ‘26 points out that “protesting is a privilege, and to be able to demonstrate alongside my classmates and friends is a blessing.” For her, “seeing hundreds of people gather in the park, united among a common goal of protecting each other and our neighbors, is the pinnacle of democracy.”
In the wake of the protest, student organizers are looking to their school community and their values. Given SHC’s foundation in Catholic Social Teaching, students happily found that the administration recognizes the connection between their education and their activism. Isabel Murray ‘26 hopes that “the SHC administration feels proud that the lessons they aim to instill in their students transcend the classroom.” She adds that, “for a school founded on preaching Christ’s love, I hope they feel proud that their students are willing to live out this love in action.”
As San Francisco prepares for the upcoming Super Bowl, another day of national scrutiny, student leaders hope others throughout the world will join them in advocating for a message of support that transcends citizenship status or race.
