On the State House steps, Concord High Junior Chelsea Toenah took hold the megaphone and led her peers into singing the “Star-Spangled Banner.”
Their voices rang out in unison, and they especially harped on “for the land of the free, and the home of the brave.”
Toenah said she didn’t expect to give any kind of speech at their protest against the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers across the United States, but she wanted to advocate for people’s rights and remind everyone that “we’re here for freedom.”
“I’m really interested in being a teacher when I’m older, so I’m interested in helping people,” Toenah said. “I think that the best way that I can help people is to get my voice out there, and that’s what I’m going to do every single time. Nobody’s going stop me. No government’s going to stop me. No teachers are going to stop me.”
Over 100 Concord High School students took over the State House lawn Thursday afternoon, holding signs and shouting to keep Immigration and Customs Enforcement officers out of the state.
Students walked out of their classrooms at 12:30 and made their way downtown. They held signs high above their heads for cars to see as they passed by. They blew whistles that were heard up and down Main Street. They joined together to chant “power to the people, no one is illegal” as they marched to the State House.
A group of students organized the walkout two weeks ago and shared information through social media and student clubs. Lia Eager, a junior at Concord High, said the idea was born when she talked with a classmate about organizing a protest.
“We are hoping to share the message that kids have voices and have minds of their own and we are fully aware and we do not support what’s going on,” Eager said. “We want to stick up for those who can’t.”
In Minnesota, where ICE presence has been prominent since December, the deaths of Renee Nicole Good and Alex Pretti have sparked national movements calling for the removal of agents from U.S. cities. Thirty-two people died in ICE custody last year, the deadlist year for the federal organization since 2004.
Senior Dylan Stewart said his mom’s side of the family comes from Indonesia, and he was out there, with a cardboard sign that said “we have cameras, they have guns,” to push back against “hatred toward immigrants.”
“In civics class, we learn all about how America is supposed to be a free place,” he said. “Then we see in the news, in front of our very eyes, that it no longer is, and no longer can really be called that. So I think that we should work to bring America back to what it’s supposed to be.”
The school was aware of the protest but did not endorse it.
Sophomore Peter Van Pelt help sophomore Davison Lyford on his shoulders, so Lyford’s sign could be seen better. Van Pelt said he was confused how ICE agents actions have escalated as far as they have.
“I’m not particularly politically educated, but I know right from wrong, and this is wrong,” he said. “If we don’t do anything about it, nobody else is going to.”
State Rep. James Roesener, at 29 years old, protested alongside the students and encouraged the movement. He said he always wants to show up for people who are using their voices for a greater cause, especially young people.
“I don’t think that saving the world should be left to the young people, but the fact that young people are showing up means that we’ve got a bright future, because we have people who are going to continue to show up,” Roesener said.
Eager said she did not expect so many of her fellow classmates to come, but was glad that there was a large turnout.
“I want to encourage every young person out there who thinks their voice is small and doesn’t matter to speak up, because you could be proved so wrong, like I was today,” she said. “One word is all it takes, and there will be people to support you. Don’t be afraid to speak up.”
