Thousands of LA students walk out to protest Trump’s immigration policies

Topline:

Student voices: 

• “ I think it's really empowering that we aren't being discouraged to [protest], but it's also really dis-encouraging to have to live through this,” said Roybal Learning Center senior Melisa. 
• “The reason I came out is 'cause we're so young and I feel like people always think that like young people don't have a voice and in reality we have one of the strongest voices,” said Jazlyn Garcia, a senior at  Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School. “I want people to go out and vote for midterms, pre-register to vote.”
• “We need to protect our neighbors,” said Leonna, a senior at Downtown Magnets High School and daughter of immigrants from Cambodia.  “We need to protect the people that make sure that the economy is running and make sure that our lives are the way that they are every day.”

Why now: Students say the Trump administration's immigration raids threaten their families, communities and education. Alexis, a senior at Brío College Prep, said administrators locked down his campus after agents detained a nearby fruit vendor. “He was a part of our community,” Alexis said. “He would always be out there selling fruits to us after school.”

What's next: San Fernando Valley students at more than 40 schools plan to walk out Friday. “Los Angeles Unified supports the rights of our students to advocate for causes important to them,” a district spokesperson wrote in a statement to LAist. “However, we are concerned for student safety at off-campus demonstrations as schools are the safest place for students.” The district encouraged students to exercise their rights in on-campus discussions and demonstrations.