Hundreds of Tri-Cities students walk out in ‘powerful’ protest of ICE, Trump
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- Hundreds of Tri‑City high school students staged coordinated walkouts to protest ICE.
- Students from five schools marched to plazas and chanted; some used Instagram/group chats.
- Organizers framed the demonstrations as a civic response to violence against immigrants.
John Dorian was once in their shoes.
As more than 200 students at Hanford High School walked out of class Friday, the 64-year-old retiree and his wife greeted them along George Washington Way with warm smiles and words of encouragement.
Dorian knew some of the kids would be nervous to question authority. He grew up in Washington, D.C., his childhood flanked by the movements for Civil Rights and against the Vietnam War.
“I’m glad to see they are finding their voice, because every generation’s going to have to do that,” said Dorian, who retired from Pacific Northwest National Laboratory. “It’s not innate — you have to have that indignation and go and say, ‘I’ve got to make a difference.’ This is the starting point of their adulthood where they can do that.”
Nearly 800 high school students across the Tri-Cities walked out of classes Friday in protest of federal immigration enforcement and the Trump administration’s nationwide crackdown on undocumented residents.
Students marched, cheered, blew whistles, waved signs and chanted as chaperones and school resource officers watched over the rallies.
Students from five high schools — Richland, Hanford, Kamiakin, Kennewickand Southridge high schools — participated in the lunchtime demonstrations and didn’t return to class. The demonstrations were not condoned by school districts, and students were marked absent, said school officials.
The protests come a week after dozens in Pasco schools walked out in protest of Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and recent escalations in Minneapolis that led to the deaths of two U.S. citizens.
Richland and Hanford students marched to John Dam Plaza near the federal building on George Washington Way. On the HAPO Community Stage, students chanted, “No hate, no fear. Immigrants are welcome here.”
Members of Indivisible Tri-Cities came out of the Richland Library as Bombers passed by and cheered on the group. Some handed out ICE alert whistles to the students.
Isabella Clifford, a senior who organized Richland High’s walkout, said the turnout was “overwhelming, but powerful.” Her group was there to spread the message that you “can’t fight hate with hate.”
She said while it’s important to keep the U.S. safe, it’s ultimately unacceptable for ICE agents to used violence on families, children and legal citizens.
“It’s so powerful how many people are fighting for this,” said Clifford.
About 80 students from Southridge walked from the school to the Southridge Sports and Events Complex on Southridge Boulevard, just west of Highway 395.
Another 50 Kennewick High School students protested. They walked from the school and up Fourth Avenue.
More than 100 Kamiakin students gathered at the intersection of Edison Street and Clearwater Avenue. The sound of whistles blowing melded with the chants of students, who held signs that read “Abolish ICE,” “ICE Out” and “No Kings.”
The Braves began organizing the walkout on Saturday, led by senior Ruby Johnson. She and a group created an Instagram account and “started following as many people as we could” to spread the word about their plan. They then created a group chat with other students.
Johnson told the Tri-City Herald on Friday that she was “so impressed with the school community for showing up.” She was happy with the turnout.
Senior Diego Martinez said that his main goal is to stop ICE from targeting businesses.
“As President Ronald Reagan said, ‘Our nation is a nation of immigrants,’” Martinez said. “‘More than any other country, our strength comes from our own immigrant heritage’.”
Students like sophomore Rae Chavez learned about the walkout on Instagram. She said she wanted to attend because she feels strongly about resisting ICE’s tactics and protecting immigrants.
This story was originally published January 30, 2026 at 3:11 PM.
