In wake of the recent ICE shootings across the nation, students of Corvallis High School and neighbouring primary and secondary schools walked out of class last Friday to protest in solidarity with those impacted.

Beginning at 9:45 a.m., groups of high school students, middle school students and other community members began their march to the Benton County courthouse. Taking up the entire downtown block with signs and chants targeted against the recent actions taken by ICE agents.

Being no stranger to local protests, the Mayor of Corvallis Charles Maughan commented saying, “This has to be the largest event I’ve ever seen … That was really impressive. I stood at the city hall steps and saw that crowd. This is significantly bigger. This is huge.”

The walkout had speakers from multiple schools and backgrounds, taking center stage in front of the courthouse steps to give accounts and criticisms on their experiences with ICE. Meanwhile the large audience surrounding them gave a moment of silence in solidarity with communities affected by the shootings, including Benton County officials.

“I’m not ashamed to say I cried,” Benton County Commissioner Gabe Sheperd said. “It was incredible to have this many students from across the city, just know that this is such an important thing. To come out for and stand up for their neighbors, stand up for their community and stand up for democracy in our country.”

However it wasn’t just the younger generation in attendance, many Oregon State University students showed their support by joining-in; speaking and rallying at the courthouse, sharing a common goal among different generations.

“It’s really nice because there’s a lot of people …  it seems like they (feel) like the younger generation is doomed. But … there’s so many of them out here … And it’s nice to know that they are passionate about stuff like this and that they don’t want the world to go to shit,” said Silas Dermer, an OSU student in attendance that day.

Hope for future generations was held by many older members of the community as Commissioner Sheperd added, “I know this will be something that these kids will remember for the rest of their lives. That when times were hard and when the days were dark they decided to come out and stand up for their community. And I’m hopeful that they’re going to continue to do that.”