Gorham High School students organized a school walkout on Jan. 30 to protest against the corruption of ICE. As ICE becomes more active throughout Maine, many nearby communities are being heavily affected. Even within Gorham, we know of people afraid to leave their homes, and they live every day with the fear of being captured by ICE.

Frustrated about the ICE operations, four juniors at Gorham High School arranged the walkout for students to stand up against ICE’s actions. The students faced challenges to make this protest happen. But they persevered because they knew the difference that even a small protest could make.

One of the leaders of the walkout said, “I’ve always thought of Gorham and Maine as somewhere where bad things don’t really happen, though unfortunately we found ourselves in the midst of this.”

Many students wore all black in solidarity. Countless students gathered outside the school, in the parking lot. Many of them carried creative signs about abolishing ICE, and student speakers were invited to use their voices. One of the organizers noted “a particular sense of community amongst students which I had never experienced previously.” Another emphasized, “The important thing is that we stand up for those who can’t stand up for themselves.”

This protest represents activism in the Gorham community and in the younger generation. As one of the walkout leaders noted, “It doesn’t matter how young we are, we have a huge impact. The perspectives of young generations are crucial in creating a peaceful future where all demographics can live among one another.”