On November 10th, 2024, following the election of Donald Trump, I saw the wall in Arizona that stretches approximately 1,954 miles across the United States and borders Mexico. I learned about the U.S immigration system from border patrol officers and how the components of security have changed throughout the years. Just a month after my visit, The Department of Homeland Security increased U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement at the border (ICE).
Student-facilitated walkouts across America were created in response to the violent attacks of Alex Jeffery Pretti, a 37 year old, shot dead by ICE in Minnesota, along with Renee Good, who was shot and killed in her car by agent Jonathan Ross. Other instances of human rights violations were also occurring across the country by ICE. Social media accounts were sometimes used for location tracking of ICE agents to inform people if there is a prevalence in the area. Other social media platforms were created by many schools–Dobbs Ferry High School, Ardsley High School– near Hastings High School. They assembled students to walkout during school hours in protest of the unethical actions of the ICE administration.
As time progresses, walkouts done by other schools and surrounding communities raise the question of why Hastings High School Students didn’t walk out, despite the Masters School protesters walking by and other schools demanding justice. Masters student Jack Billman, who participated in their protests and made the trek to Hastings High School, proposed, “I think Hastings could have had a similar impact if a couple of people had risen to the opportunity.” Students at Hastings could have taken initiative but didn’t, showcasing that passion is the motivation to facilitate change in our community.
Still, there are limitations due to HHS being a public school. Principal Andrew Clayman stated, “If students walkout, they are walking out without the approval of the school.” He claimed that students are then faced with a choice to sacrifice their education and raise awareness for something they are passionate about.
Although Billman said that people from the Masters School were trying to rally towards Hastings, the effectiveness of trying to get students involved stemmed largely from Hastings classes being in session.Since Hastings is a smaller community, some may fear that an in-school protest may not be unified enough to work. Billman said, “I think that on any level of community, whether you live in one of the biggest cities in the world or in a small community like Hastings, there [are] still opportunities to make an impact.”
I think that everyone’s voices make a difference regardless of Hastings’ small community. Students at Hastings may be ambitious and outgoing, but academics are also a conflicting factor when it comes to leaving class for a protest. Clayman also explained to me how “[the] attendance policy does not include walking out for political protests as an excused absence.” This may cause an issue, especially with such a strict attendance policy this year, if students want to leave class, which may have been a contributing factor to the lack of protest.
Hastings students need to sacrifice their learning environments to make their voices heard. Because no one took up the facilitating position of creating the protest, people may become discouraged to do so in the future. So, if you are considering standing up and keeping people informed, be the difference. Do what you can to make people realize, learn, and be determined to change the world one small community at a time.
