Moses Lake students stage walkout to protest ICE

MOSES LAKE — About 80 students walked out of Moses Lake High School and Vanguard Academy on Tuesday afternoon to protest actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement. The students took up signs and demonstrated at the intersection of East Nelson Road and South Pioneer Way. 

“We feel what they’re doing to families is wrong,” said Arianna Merino. “We all came together at once to protest and tell what ICE is doing wrong. We’re speaking for our people.” 

Students packed all four corners of the intersection, waving signs that said things like “It’s a beautiful day to melt some ICE,” “No one is illegal on stolen land” and “Where were your papers in 1492?” Many, but not all of the students were Hispanic, which Brooke Morales said gave her extra reason to protest. 

“I for one feel especially strongly about it,” she said. “I have a family full of immigrants … I am a woman of color. I face struggles and protesting makes me feel more involved in this. It makes me feel like I have a heart.” 

The protest was organized on social media, according to Bobbie Hawn, who said she had been one of the students who initiated the effort.  

“There are pages everyone follows on Instagram, Snapchat, Facebook, TikTok, everywhere,” she said. “I spread it out to everyone, and everyone posted it everywhere … We were just like, ‘Hey, we’re going to do a walkout, come join us if you want to.’” 

It took only two days to organize the walkout, which started at noon, Hawn said. 

The walkout was entirely student-organized and not sanctioned by the Moses Lake School District, MLSD spokesman Ryan Shannon said. The district did not take any special action regarding the protest. 

“We followed our normal procedure, which is to record an accurate attendance,” Shannon said. “(The students who left) were considered unexcused absences and were recorded accordingly.” 

The air was filled with shouts of students and with passing cars honking. At one point, a Moses Lake Police Car drove slowly through the intersection, warning students on the loudspeaker to stay on the sidewalk and out of the roadway. 

“(There have been) no problems,” MLPD Capt. Jeff Sursely said about 2:30 p.m. “The kids are being respectful and exercising their First Amendment rights.” 

A few passing drivers revved their engines or shouted back at the students as well. 

“A lot of people don’t agree,” Joseline Medina said. “But at the end of the day, it’s our opinion. If we want to spread the word out, we can.”