VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. — Virginia Beach students from several high schools participated in student walkouts during the school day Friday to protest recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement activity across the country, demonstrating growing student activism on immigration issues. WTKR News 3 Erin Holly was at Green Run to cover this demonstration but was not allowed on campus. Last Friday, Erin Holly covered student walkouts in Portsmouth and Chesapeake.
Drone video in the player below showed the full scale of the event:
One Green Run senior who spoke to Erin Holly told her he understands why ICE activities are happening, but doesn't agree with them.
"I think it’s wrong to some degree–especially what’s happening to certain families,” said the student.
Students at Green Run High School gathered on the football field during Friday morning for about 15 minutes from 10:45 until 11:00, holding signs and chanting in opposition to the nationwide immigration crackdown. It remained peaceful and students returned to class after the demonstration. A spokesperson for Virginia Beach City Public Schools (VBCPS) tells News 3 there is no approval process for student-led walkouts, but district staff works to make them as safe as possible.
Later in the day, a group of Kempsville High School students started their protest on the football field, but then took their protest to the streets. Some gathered at the intersection of Princess Anne Road and Kempsville Road while chanting "No more ICE" and other chants.
Watch: Kempsville High School students gather to protest ICE
Last Friday, an ICE protest was held at Deep Creek High School in Chesapeake. "Immigrants built America," "we are humans" and "el pueblo unido jamás será vencido" were among the slogans seen on signs at the protest.
Watch previous coverage: Hampton Roads high school students lead walkouts to protest ICE
Paula Rubio Quintero, a Kempsville High School student, said her heritage motivated her participation in Friday's walkout.
"I'm Hispanic myself, and so my family and ancestors would be proud of me for doing this. It's horrible, hearing how people are being taken, and the way that they're being taken. It just breaks my heart, hearing the way it's being done," Rubio Quintero said.
Fellow Kempsville student Akira Palmer expressed hope that their demonstration could make a difference.
"I feel like standing for something like this, just even if it's that many people, it can change something," Palmer said.
VBCPS operates under School Board Policy 5-40, which acknowledges everyone's constitutional right to freedom of speech while outlining specific parameters and consequences for student participation in both planned and spontaneous assemblies during school hours. In keeping with this policy, school division staff will neither encourage nor discourage students from exercising their right to participate in any peaceful school walkout. However, leaving campus without following proper early dismissal procedures is a violation of School Board Regulation 5-63.1 and may result in disciplinary action. The district emphasizes maintaining a safe learning environment while respecting students' rights to peaceful expression.
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