During fourth period on Friday, Jan. 30, students across the San Mateo Union High School District walked out of class to protest the expansion of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) crackdowns under the Trump administration and to stand in solidarity with Minnesota after the violence and fatalities caused by recent ICE operations.

The walkout was organized and led by juniors Kaleo Tapio, Johanna Galvin, and Savannah Carranza. Students gathered in Washington Park and marched to San Mateo Central Park.

Burlingame administration helped the organizers coordinate with the Burlingame Police Department, who guided the large crowd through intersections and busy streets to ensure their safety.

Once students arrived at Central Park, they were joined by students from San Mateo, Hillsdale, and Aragon High School, along with local community members.

Community member Del Harvey, a trust and safety consultant, knew some of the students at the walkout through a local theatre program. Harvey said she attended to support them.

“I hope that it empowers these students to realize how much power they have,” Harvey said.

Tapio, who ran the social media account for the walkout, said the event was a reminder that students have a voice.

“We have to speak out. It’s our duty. It’s our right,” Tapio said. “I’m so proud of everyone that’s shown up today to protest, to walk out, to have the courage to do so.”

Senior Yosseline Rodriguez was among hundreds of Burlingame students who attended the walkout. Rodriguez said she wanted people to understand the gravity of the situation.

“A lot of teenagers aren’t as sensitive to these issues,” Rodriguez said. “Some of them might take it as jokes, but I really want people to understand that this is a real-life situation that many people are impacted by. Not only illegal immigrants, but people who are citizens.”

Nearly 400 students had preapproved absences to attend the student-organized walkout on Friday, Jan. 30. By the end of the day, that number increased to around 600, according to Assistant Principal Jordan Loey.

In anticipation of the walkout, San Mateo Union High School District (SMUHSD) Superintendent Randall Booker sent an email to the community on Wednesday, Jan. 28. He said the walkout was “not a District or school-organized or sanctioned walkout/protest.”

The statement also explained the district’s policies on walkouts, including compliance with California Education Code § 48205, which allows students one excused absence to attend a civic or political event. The district also affirmed support for teachers’ First Amendment rights, noting that “they must take leave” if they wished to attend the protest, since they cannot participate during working hours as employees. According to Loey and Dean of Students Nicole Carter, all Burlingame teachers were allowed to attend protests in San Mateo County or elsewhere.

The absence reporting form for Burlingame students was updated to include an option for parents or students to indicate their absence as taking the day off for a civic or political event.

“As long as you put in your day, we’ll approve it, it’s all good. We understand what’s happening,” Loey said. “… We’re not going to not let you take time off to participate.”

Outside of SMUHSD, Sequoia High School Principal Sean Priest emailed his students ahead of the protest, citing the same Education Code and Sequoia Union High School District (SUHSD) Administrative Regulation 5113, which also allows students an excused absence for engagement in a political or civil event. In the email, Priest said that “school staff and administrators are not authorized to accompany students off campus or promote, organize, or take part in any such event.”

Carter and Loey attended the protest to ensure student safety and coordinated with the local police force.

“If you want to peacefully protest, you all have the right under the First Amendment and the Constitution to be able to do so,” Carter said. “We just wanted to make sure that you were being safe and how all of you were going about it, and everything that I observed was completely safe from all students from all different schools, colleges, and middle schools.”

Loey said open communication between walkout organizers and school administrators helped support student safety.

“I think it was a really positive experience for the students, and I really want them to hold on and capture what a really good strike and a really good organized movement looks like,” Loey said. “… Because they were so communicative and open and kept us in the loop on everything, that allowed us to be extra prepared, keep them safe, and get all these other folks involved.”

History teacher Annie Miller stayed at school to support students who did not attend the protest, but she said she was proud of those who exercised their constitutional rights.

“I wanted to support all students, regardless of political beliefs,” Miller said. “Some of the students who stayed back, I was assuming, may not have agreed with the protests. But also, there were students whose parents wouldn’t let them go. There may have been students of immigrant backgrounds who felt uncomfortable or unsafe attending a protest.”

Drama teacher Michelle Shannon, who attended the protest as a private citizen, said she also felt proud.

“It was very peaceful. It was very passionate. It was empowering,” Shannon said. “… They felt confident that they were actually making a difference.”