With ‘No ICE’ protest, Westfield High school students make voices heard
WESTFIELD — Tenth-grader Olivia Torrone would have normally been in history class.
Instead, Torrone said, she's a part of history.
She was near the front of the pack Friday when about two dozen Westfield High School students walked out in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement and the abuses they see playing out on television screens and on social media.
There were 32 deaths of people in ICE custody in 2025, and another six have died as of late January, according to The Associated Press and The Guardian.
At 12:15 p.m., Grayson Wesley, 15, right, and Alexis Humason, 15, left, were two of the students who were part of a Westfield High School walkout Friday to protest the actions by immigration officials across the country. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
"ICE is here in Westfield," she said. "And across the country, they are killing innocent people. They are detaining American citizens."
School administrators warned students this week that walking out would affect their attendance records and could bring consequences.
"Good," Torrone said. "There should be consequences."
There was word that some teachers scheduled quizzes Friday afternoon to keep students from attending the protest. Other students said some teens would only come after school, because they were afraid of jeopardizing their status in the National Honor Society.
On North Elm Street, Westfield High School students hold banners after taking part in a walkout to protest actions taken by immigration officials and President Donald J. Trump on Friday. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Junior Morgan Roy said his teacher canceled a quiz that had been set for Friday. And he wasn't worried about punishments.
"I have a 4.0 (grade point average)," he said. "I'm in the top 10% of my class."
What he couldn't do, he said, is stay silent while federal immigration agents mistreat Americans.
"People say we had ICE before. They say we had ICE under Obama," he said. "But this isn't how they were used. This isn't what ICE should be used for."
Zoie Cabrera Leopardi, in the 11th grade, said the protest is meant to give voice to people who cannot speak out. She has immigrants in her family.
On North Elm Street, Westfield High School students hold banners after taking part in a walkout to protest actions taken by immigration officials and President Donald J. Trump on Friday. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
"We need to make our voice heard," she said.
The students walked from the school about a mile away to a high-visibility intersection on North Elm Street. A few school officials walked with them.
Some students played music by Puerto Rican artist and Super Bowl headliner Bad Bunny, who also has been outspoken in his support of immigrants.
They were met along the way by parents bearing snacks and a smattering of adults.
One was congressional candidate Jeromie Whalen, a Democrat running against U.S. Rep. Richard E. Neal in the upcoming primary.
Many were members of the Westfield branch of the No Kings movement, which hosts regular protests.
Cherrie, left, and Tom Rodriguez show their support for the Westfield High School students on North Elm Street on Friday. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
"We are here to support the kids," said Cherrie Rodriguez, of Westfield No Kings . "It's great to see."
A few motorists slowed down, mostly to offer support. One driver was in a pickup truck with a lift kit, who gunned his engine as he passed. A waiting Westfield police officer took off after him.
Students planned to walk back to school after about an hour and catch the bus home.
Also on Friday, federal prosecutors announced 30 more people have been indicted for allegedly taking part in an anti-immigration enforcement protest at a Minnesota church where the pastor worked for ICE, the AP reported.
Alexis Humason, 15, left, took part in the Westfield High School walkout to protest the actions by Immigration officials on Friday. (Douglas Hook / The Republican)Douglas Hook
Stories by Jim Kinney
Read the original article on MassLive . Add MassLive as a Preferred Source by clicking here .
