Fresno students stage protest against Trump’s immigration policies

FRESNO, Calif (KSEE/KGPE) – Dozens of students from two high schools in Fresno left their classrooms in the middle of the day on Friday in what school officials say was a protest against the Trump administration’s immigration policies.

According to Carlos Castillo with Fresno Unified School District, students primarily from McLane High School and Duncan High School took part in the protest – which was organized independently of the school district.

“District officials found out about it a couple of days ago through social media postings,” Castillo said. “We’ve heard from our students and from our teachers that many students are worried about some of the policies that are coming out.”

Castillo says once faculty and staff found out about the protest, they urged students to exercise their free speech on campus. Students started exiting their classrooms around 1 p.m. and staff were already outside and prepared for the demonstration.

“We’ve been in communication with Fresno Police Department,” Castillo said. “To help us with the personnel to make sure our kids stay safe.”

However, the students decided to walk off campus into what the Fresno Unified School District says was an uncontrolled environment outside the schools’ boundaries.

“From what we’ve heard, students want to show the public that they are not in agreement with some of the policies coming out from the administration,” said Castillo. “Instead of them staying on campus, they decided to walk off campus.”

Castillo says an estimated 400 to 500 students took part in this protest – adding that more protests may be coming in the future.