Students Rally at Pasadena City Hall, Fri, Feb. 6, 2026 (Photo – Staff)
Students from every Pasadena high school gathered at City Hall at 2:00 pm on Friday, February 6, as part of a planned walkout in solidarity with immigrant communities. The demonstration began with students from John Muir and Blair, and quickly grew as students from Pasadena High School, Thurgood Marshall, and Rose City joined them.
By Misch Anderson
Music, chants, flags, and spontaneous dancing charged the youthful protest with an infectious enthusiasm. The large crowd also drew some older people, who expressed support and admiration. One bystander thanked the students, saying, “Thank you, young people. [You’re] following in the footsteps of the Freedom Riders. They shouldn’t have to keep doing this, but here we are.” Another added, “The diversity in the community is amazing.”
Thousands of students across the country joined similar actions on Friday to protest the Trump Administration’s militarized immigration enforcement, detention of children, and violence against U.S. citizens protesting immigration raids.
“We are on the right side of history,” one student said.
Many students described fear, but also a sense of responsibility to act. “My mom didn’t want me to come to the protest, because she was scared for my safety,” one student shared. “I told her we should be MORE scared for what will happen if we DON’T protest. She thought about it, then told me to go, just be safe.”
Another student added, “We’re scared, and we’re scared for our friends. But we gotta be brave and stand up.”
Several students said the issue has become impossible to ignore. “I don’t follow any political or news stuff on TikTok,” one student said, “but now things are so crazy with ICE that, y’know, everyone is talking about it.”
James, a student from Thurgood Marshall High School, emphasized unity and inclusion. “We need to change and accept people, more cultures, because that’s what America was built off of,” he said.
Others spoke directly about the impact of immigration enforcement on families and communities. Danielle from Learning Works Charter School said, “ICE needs to get out. They’re hurting everyone here. We need to get together and remember that together, we can do a lot more than just suffer.”
Samuel, a student from Pasadena High School, explained simply, “We’re all here to stand and support our immigrant communities.”
Alonso from John Muir High School said the protest was about ongoing injustice in the city. “We are here to protest the injustice that keeps on happening every day in our city, like ICE taking away innocent workers that came here just for a better life,” he said.
Madison, a senior at John Muir High School, said she was protesting for those who cannot. “I’m here to protest for the people that cannot protest and for the rights that we need for our community and our world,” she said. “Because having ICE here is not okay. And being an immigrant is okay. Being an immigrant— [like] my family is.”
Denis, from John Muir, echoed that message. “I’m here to protest for the people who can’t, because ICE needs to get out, and it’s just not right. Families are getting separated,” he said.
Another student, Denise, spoke about labor and visibility. “I am here for those who don’t have papers. They’re the ones that are doing everything for us, like building houses and all that stuff. It’s not right, and we need to be here to support them because they can’t. We’re using our voices to help them,” she said.
One student, Moss, expressed anger and fear over immigration enforcement tactics, describing masked agents and families being separated. “We have such a nice community going on here, and they have us living in fear,” Moss said. “People are going to be taken from their families. That’s never okay.”
Despite the strong emotions and difficult subject matter, the walkout remained peaceful throughout. Students stood together, shared their stories, and made clear that they see their presence as an act of courage, solidarity, and hope for change.
“You Can’t Love the Culture and Hate the People” sign (Photo – Staff)
Students Rally at Pasadena City Hall (Photo – Staff)
“Borders Don’t Bleed. Humans Do!” sign (Photo – Staff)
Students Rally at Pasadena City Hall (Photo – Staff)
{Immigrants Get the Job Done” sign (Photo – Staff)
ON the steps of Pasadena City Hall (Photo – Staff)
Students Rally at City Hall (Photo – Staff)
“Fund Education Not Deportation” sign (Photo – Staff)
Students Rally at Pasadena City Hall, Fri, Feb. 6, 2026 (Photo – Staff)
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