ICE is meant to be cold, rigid and unmoving, but this morning at WJ, it cracked.

Students poured out of classrooms and into the halls and sidewalks after third period on Jan. 23, staging a walkout in protest of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and to stand in solidarity with immigrant communities affected by its policies.

Senior Olivia Fioravanti began planning the rally after learning more about ICE and watching students at other schools throughout MCPS stage similar protests. What began as a quiet concern, she said, gradually intensified and ultimately boiled over after she learned through social media about the death of Renée Good, prompting her to demand action and take steps to organize the walkout.

With help from others, she helped publicize the walkout and ensure student safety. Details and expectations for the walkout were shared through social media via @wj_ice_walkout on Instagram, posting information about ICE, and communicating logistical details related to the event.

At lunch the day before the protest, organizers held a sign-making session where students could channel their creativity and engage in the rally in a meaningful way. Students gathered around tables of G03, markers and poster boards in hand, nervous with anticipation for the events of the following day.

“I just want to stand up for what I think is right and contribute in any way that I can, even if it’s the smallest thing,” sophomore Sloane Lieber said.

Fioravanti was called into the main office to speak with school administrators about safety and logistics. Administration requested that the walkout begin at 10:50 a.m., releasing students from fourth period 15 minutes early. Fioravanti raised concerns that the shortened time would not be sufficient for scheduled speakers to address the crowd and said she wanted the walkout to begin at 10:15 a.m., its original time. Against the administration’s wishes, the walkout began as the bell ending third period rang, with students gathering along the sidewalk near the main entrance.

Beyond planning and scheduling, the walkout was rooted in concerns that many students said felt personal and immediate.

ICE raids across the country have struck close to home for countless students. During the walkout, many speakers and attendees described deep fears and lingering uncertainty about their own futures and the lives of their loved ones. As the rally continued, speakers repeatedly called out the Trump administration for enabling ICE’s actions, prompting loud cheers from attendees.

“My family, we come from Nicaragua and… there’s just no need for someone to be afraid to just walk around in a place that they should just be able to call home,” sophomore Reagen Reed said. “The United States claims that we have liberty and we’re free and everyone is equal. But the thing is, what Trump’s administration has been doing is not fair to people who have worked harder to be here than people who have just been born here.”

Reed’s concerns were echoed by other students who described similar fears surrounding their families’ safety.

“My family came from India and because we don’t pass as white, we’ve been getting so much more racism and slurs thrown at us and we’re scared that ICE is gonna deport us,” freshman Sam Ghosh said. “I wanna fight for the cause in any way I can.”

Waves of students flooded the sidewalk throughout the bus loop, a powerful sight that resonated with rally organizers and supporters alike.

Numerous speakers stepped forward one by one to deliver prepared speeches that blend personal stories, frustrations and hopes for change. Voices varied in tone and volume as students described their experiences and concerns, some choosing to identify themselves while others remained anonymous, asking friends to read their words aloud on their behalf. One speaker in particular, senior Mikayla Palmer, recited a speech written by one of her classmates that described their experiences living in the United States as an immigrant.

Junior Gunnar Jones ended their off-the-cuff speech with a powerful message of encouragement, reminding WJ of the strength they hold as a united student body.

“You’re fighting for your friends, you’re fighting for your family, for your countrymen. You should be proud to be out here today, building community, instead of tearing it down,” Jones said. “You are all so brave, you are all so powerful. There are people here who have so much to lose by being here.”