As part of a larger plan in the valley, CHS sophomore Benjamin Warren is helping to coordinate an ICE protest for Friday, February 6th. In response to the chaos of the recent protest on Friday, January 30, Warren is attempting to be part of a larger, more coordinated effort. Several students have already expressed support for the demonstration. 

Benjamin Warren shared his thoughts on the event, which he believes began with good intentions, and the role students played. 

“I do think it originated as a good cause,” he said. 

However, he noted that students joined to get out of school, which contributed to the situation getting worse. 

“It especially got out of hand when somebody broke the sink, and it turned violent,” he said.

Warren emphasized that while protests can be positive, violence and vandalism take the meaning out of their purpose. 

“I think protests are good in nature, but when people get violent, then it just goes against the whole purpose,” he said. “You’re protesting violence, so when you do violence, it’s counterintuitive.”

In response to the chaos of the first protest, Warren helped organize a second, more structured protest. He explained that an Instagram called Valley Walkout is coordinating protests across schools in the San Fernando Valley. 

When he noticed that Calabasas was not included, he reached out to help organize one locally.

 “I organized the details. At 10:03 during nutrition, we’re walking to El Camino,” said Warren.

The plan for Friday, February 6, and its protest includes the walkout and walking to the El Camino Shopping Center. 

Principal Bennett Wutkee confirmed the possibility of a walkout. 

Wutkee said, “We’re aware that there’s been a social media post about a potential walkout tomorrow.”

Wutkee explained that the school’s top priority is safety for both students and staff.

“Our job is to keep the school safe, and so we’ve asked students if you do want to have a protest, let us know so we can support you and give you a place to do that safely,” he said.

He also added that administrators are preparing in case the protest occurs. 

Wutkee said, “We’re planning in case it does happen so that we can keep students and staff safe and have everything in place to make sure that it happens without any problem.”

In an evening email via StudentSquare, Wutkee later posted a CHS update regarding student expression, and the possibility of the student walkout. The same email was sent to AC Stelle students on behalf of their principal, Susana Baird.

“If students wish to express support for a cause, we ask that they do so peacefully on campus…,” the email wrote. “Please note that leaving campus without permission during school hours is not an excused absence and will be marked accordingly.”

In keeping with the anti-ICE nature of the protest, Valley Walkout advised students to bring flags, signs, posters, and jerseys to represent their culture.

Warren said he has been personally talking to students around campus to raise interest. According to him, many students have expressed support and plan to attend.

Warren has not formally spoken to the school staff, stating that the organizers of the Instagram account advised him to avoid interference, though he has heard the school may be supportive of a protest, seeing that it stays on campus and does not put students in harm’s way.

Warren said that the protest has two main goals. The first is opposing ICE policies and showing that younger generations are willing to speak up. 

“As the next generation, especially high schoolers who are about to go into the real world, I think it’s important to send a message that we’re not just going to sit back and take it,” Warren said.

Although he is aware of the consequences of a walkout, Warren is not worried. After researching district policies, he said the most serious outcome would be a lunch detention and an unexcused absence. 

“I’ve done some research, and LVUSD can’t suspend or expel people for protesting for political reasons. The most they can do is a little lunch detention, which I’m not afraid of,” Warren said. 

For Warren, organizing the protest was something he had been thinking about for a while. He said recent national events, including the deaths of Renee Goode and Alex Purdy in Minnesota, made him feel it was necessary to act. 

“I just think it’s really important to send a message that ICE shouldn’t be out murdering people. It’s unconstitutional,” Warren said.

As students prepare for the next demonstration, discussions on campus about protests and responsibility remain prevalent. Students are looking to make their voices heard without demeaning the message they hope to convey.