30/01/2026
A couple hundred students walked out of campus this morning, peacefully protesting the U.S. government and ICE. Led by sophomores Tilly Burgart, Lara Tait and Valerie Zhou, the group left Los Altos High School between second period and ACT on Friday, Jan. 30, walking down Almond Avenue and San Antonio Road before pausing at the Downtown Los Altos Plaza.
There, students made speeches and sang songs while passersby in cars honked and cheered in tandem.
“My great-grandfather came from the Philippines and he worked his butt off to get his family in a place to where they could succeed,” junior Quincy McNeal said. “People doing that now are being unjustly persecuted, and people are dying while protecting the right to come to this country. No one in a country that says we promote freedom and liberty should be wrongfully kicked out because of that.”
The group then moved to the side of San Antonio Road in front of the Los Altos City Hall, continuing to chant while facing passing traffic. Students returned to campus during brunch and around the start of fourth period.
Despite the large turnout and organized protest, Tilly said this was all planned just two days ago.
“We spent the entire time since 11 p.m. two nights ago planning and talking and trying to get attention, and this is absolutely amazing,” Tilly said. “We need to show unity for each other’s causes. And if all the minorities come together, we can be bigger than the people trying to put us down.”
For students, it was an opportunity to protest what they believed in.
“Nobody here is an alien; we all belong,” junior Andres Grima said.
The walkout is part of a nationwide movement — “50 Protests, 50 States, 1 Day” — protesting ICE.
Story and photos by Dorie Xie and Mia Scott
