NORTHAMPTON — Almost half of the John F. Kennedy Middle School student body walked out of class on Thursday to protest the mass detainment and deportations by U.S. Immigration Customs Enforcement since President Donald Trump began his second term.
“What is happening in this country is unacceptable,” said Liliana Igneri, a seventh grader who organized the protest. “Children are scared. Families are scared. Some people don’t step foot outside unless absolutely necessary. This is not leadership. It is the beginning of the end.”
Students left the school building at 12:30 p.m. and walked from 100 Bridge Road to the roundabout in front of Look Park at 300 N. Main St. The Anti-ICE Walk Out began with several student speakers who criticized the deportations of citizens and encouraged the people to power.
“This is a problem that affects all people of all ages: preschoolers, middle schoolers, adults,” Igneri said. “This is not OK. We will not stand for it.”
“But when adults fail, it’s young people that lead.”
Rachel Maiore, Northampton city council president
Social media posts calling for protests on the one-year anniversary of President Trump’s inauguration inspired Igneri to bring resistance to her own community. With the help of her mother April and at least 40 of her friends, Igneri connected with Indivisible Northampton-Swing Left Western Mass and spread the new among her friends.
“She’s just discovered her voice,” April said. “JFK has been super supportive of her this year and helped her feel more confident.”
The protest motivated many students to raise their own voices. They chanted “no hate, no fear, all immigrants are welcome here” and “love, not hate, makes America great.” Protest signs with “Melt ICE,” “ICE out” and “hot girls melt ice” decorated the sky.
“Students, as children, are sacrificing our education to come out here and fight for what we think is right,” eighth grader Asa Johnson said.
Several speakers condemned the immigration crackdown in Minneapolis, including the detainment of 5-year-old Liam Conejo Ramos and the killings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Thursday afternoon, border czar Tom Homan declared an end to the surge after two months of angry mass protests and thousands of arrests.
“Our government does have a lot of power,” said Beth Lev, who leads Indivisible Northampton. “However, no government has more power than the people that it wants to govern. When we the people say no … then the regime must listen because we will shut it down.”
The Department of Homeland Security reports 675,000 people were deported in 2025. JFK student Alanna Smith-Sullivan pointed out many reports of people being detained or deported without violent history, despite ICE claims to focus on criminals. She, as well as many other students, said the conditions of detention centers and treatment of immigrants are inhumane.
“History has shown us that just following orders has never been an excuse for injustice,” she said. “Laws can be wrong. Systems can be broken, and when enforcement becomes dehumanization, obedience becomes complicity.”
Northampton City Council President Rachel Maiore commended the students for their courage, and recalled many of the youth-led activist movements throughout history. She said the Northampton government will do everything it can to protect its residents, but change requires brave young people like them.
“When adults fail, it’s young people that lead,” Maiore said. “History proves it: when fear gets louder than courage, it’s young people who rise.”