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

Thousands of students from schools across Los Angeles walked out Wednesday in peaceful protest of the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

The Los Angeles Unified School District estimated 4,500 students from about two dozen schools participated.

Students said the escalation of immigration raids threatens their families, communities and education.

Matthew, a junior at Lincoln High School, created the @lausdwalkouts2026 Instagram account. He said he was inspired by last year’s student protests and family members who have been afraid to leave their homes or go to the supermarket.

“It felt important because I was speaking out for those that don't have a voice,” Matthew said.

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.”

Roybal Learning Center senior Melisa.

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Mariana Dale

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LAist

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Jazlyn Garcia, a senior at  Alliance Gertz-Ressler High School.

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Mariana Dale

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LAist

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Leonna, a senior at Downtown Magnets High School and daughter of immigrants from Cambodia.

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Sabrina Sanchez

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LAist

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Students join history of activism

Los Angeles students have a history of activism, including the 1968 “blowouts” now recognized as the start of the urban Chicano rights movement.

Matthew, the student organizer, met with peers from other high schools to create a schedule and a list of demands of the district and its teachers that included providing more resources for immigrant students and training for students and staff on how to interact with federal agents.

Social media accounts tied to the walkouts also provided advice on how to take public transportation and stay safe during the protest.

San Fernando Valley students at more than 40 schools plan to walk out Friday.

LAUSD estimated that several thousand students walked out.

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Sabrina Sanchez

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LAist

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Students said they were concerned for family and neighbors.

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Sabrina Sanchez

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LAist

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Students said the response from teachers and school administrators ranged from supportive to cautious. Some students made protest signs during class and others said they were warned about potential disciplinary actions.

California law requires students to attend school, but middle and high school absences may be excused for engaging in a “civic or political event” with prior notice.

“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.

This truck led the procession of student protestors through downtown Los Angeles Wednesday.

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Mariana Dale

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LAist

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Dozens of adults volunteered to accompany students from their schools to downtown, where they handed out water, snacks and sunscreen.

Rachel Crowe was one of about 10 volunteers in bright yellow vests who arrived at the protest with students from John Marshall High School.

“They just deserve an outlet,” Crowe said. “That's wild to have to balance being a high schooler and not knowing if your parents are coming home. That's horrifying.”

The students gathered in front of City Hall around noon and then marched to the Metropolitan Detention Center and through Little Tokyo.

The Los Angeles Police Department ordered the crowd to disperse around 3:30 p.m. Wednesday. The following morning, Officer Rosario Cervantes said five people were arrested in connection with the protest — four juveniles for suspected vandalism and one adult for suspected battery on a police officer. LAist saw several individuals tag the buildings and bus shelters along the route. Anti-ICE tagging was also sprayed in red, white and blue paint onto the Japanese American National Museum.

The building, which houses artifacts related to the Japanese American immigrant experience, including incarceration during World War II, was also hit by graffiti during last year’s anti-ICE protests.