At Lynbrook, missing class is rarely a casual decision. Between tests, projects and the constant pressure to stay ahead, taking even a single day off can feel like a setback for students driven by academic performance. Yet on Feb. 2, many students chose to miss their second and third periods to walk out for immigrant rights. In doing so, they established a much-needed blueprint for how Lynbrook students can exercise civic power in the years ahead. As immigration enforcement continues to evolve and new policies emerge, students at academically-focused schools show that they are not apolitical. By organizing, they set precedents that shape how future classes will respond to issues that matter to them.
On that day, approximately 200 Lynbrook students participated in a walkout against United States Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Homestead High School, Fremont High School and Monta Vista High School followed suit on Feb. 4. In fact, throughout the Bay Area, over 1,000 students participated in anti-ICE walkouts. The scale of these demonstrations suggests a generation ready to civilly engage with the critical issues affecting their communities.
“I believe because students aren’t allowed to vote yet, it’s so important for us to use our voice to be heard,” junior and Lynbrook walkout organizer Yaebin Kim said.
Lynbrook students are often criticized as more likely to repost an infographic than to take meaningful action. But at a school known more for STEM innovation than civic engagement, students defied expectations. The protesters who walked out are a testament to a rare sense of unity among different grade levels and backgrounds.
It is true not all behavior during the march reflected the values the protest aimed to promote. When students arrived at Cupertino City Hall, some banged on windows, pressed signs against the glass and shouted at city hall workers. These actions crossed a line from protest to disrespect. Effective activism requires not only passion, but also focus. Shouting at workers who have no control over federal immigration policies undermined the protest’s credibility and distracts from its message. Going forward, students should recognize that how they protest matters as much as why they protest.
After all, the stakes of the walkout were real: Even though ICE raids have not directly targeted the Lynbrook community, the Bay Area is home to thousands of immigrant families living in fear of deportation, including families here in Cupertino and San José. International students at Lynbrook face uncertainty about their own futures. When students walk out to protest ICE, they are speaking up for neighbors, classmates and community members whose lives hang in the balance.
“Everyone has their own reasons to protest,” senior and protester Dave Elango said. “Instead of making this a political protest, it was a walkout to make humanity better for all.”
At the same time, students shouldn’t expect teachers to postpone tests, push back due dates, excuse absences or provide makeup work without penalty. These inconveniences are part of the reality of student activism; meaningful protest isn’t meant to be easy.
“When you’re making a political decision, there has to be some degree of sacrifice to make it worthwhile,” social studies teacher Jeffrey Bale said. “If there is no consequence at all, then I wonder what the value is.”
History shows that student-led movements have long driven change. The 1960s saw student walkouts contribute to the civil rights movement and oppose the Vietnam War. In 2018, students across the country walked out to demand stricter gun control regulations after the Parkland shooting, leading to tangible policy discussions and changes in multiple states.
“There’s also protests that happen in college,” assistant principal and walkout supervisor Yukari Salazar said. “So always keep your eyes out, keep your ears open, know and be prepared.”
The Feb. 2 walkout demonstrated that the potential for meaningful activism exists. The willingness to show up pushes back against the preconception that students today avoid taking action outside the classroom. Despite packed schedules and worries around grades, students cared enough to walk six miles in the middle of a school day. They made signs. They chanted. They showed up. That matters. However, walking out is only the first step.
“Students are using their voice and they seem more equipped to use their voice,” principal and walkout supervisor Janice Chen said. “They’re more empowered to stand up for what they believe in.”
The challenge now is to channel that energy into sustained action rather than letting it fade into just another story students tell about that one time they skipped class. That could mean partnering with local organizations to provide translation services for immigrant communities, hosting forums where students and families can share their experiences, donating to immigrant advocacy organizations, fundraising for legal defense funds and volunteering with groups that support immigrant families. Through small efforts, students can prove that civic engagement isn’t just a one-day gesture, but a long-term commitment involving empathy and collective care.
“Protests are like exercise,” Bale said. “The more focused and succinct you are, the more focused and regular you are with it, the better your causes and your voice will be.”
