EPHRATA — Around 25 students from Ephrata High School protested Immigration Customs Enforcement on Wednesday morning by skipping their second period. The students began the protest at EHS, walking down Basin Street and looping in front of the courthouse back to the school.  

“We just want to stand up for people that can’t speak up for themselves,” student organizer Gisselle Sandoval-Garcia said. “We just want justice, we are citizens and we are not criminals. We don’t want people to get killed anymore.” 

She referenced the deaths of Renee Good, 37, who was shot three times by immigration enforcement Jan. 7 and Alex Pretti, 37, who was shot several times by ICE officers Jan. 24. Investigations into both incidents are still ongoing. 

“I feel like we are doing something better for our community,” Sandoval-Garcia said. “Just because we are young, does not mean we can’t make a difference. A lot of people say that, but here we are seeing the same issues, and we have no power in the decisions. We just want to be heard.” 

She said she is proud of herself and her fellow students. 

“This makes me feel seen, because I come from an immigrant family and I feel the support of that today,” she said.

While the students were walking through town, they received gestures of support – honking, thumbs up and one citizen even yelled from their car “Thank you for coming out, it takes guts.” 

The group also experienced criticism, with some residents giving a simple thumbs down and others flipped off the students.  

Superintendent Ken Murray said this event was not organized, sponsored or supervised by Ephrata High or the district. He said the district does not have a stance on the matter; however, they have a responsibility to keep students safe.  

“While we understand that students care and are concerned for their peers and their community, we have a responsibility to keep them safe and in attendance,” Murray said in a statement. “With this in mind, once the high school learned of this, they communicated with families to inform them of this potential walkout to ensure they were aware that student absences would be considered unexcused without parent permission.”  

Despite the potential for an unexcused absence, Sandoval-Garcia said she doesn’t care. 

“We have bigger problems than just our school attendance for a period,” she said. “We are standing up for what we believe in. We skipped class to teach a lesson to the community. I hope they listened.”  

    Students at Ephrata High School protested Immigration Customs Enforcement by skipping their second period to march in the streets. Student organizer Gisselle Sandoval-Garcia, front left, leads the students to Basin Street.