Beacon Academy students protest ICE during school day

Dozens of students walked through downtown Evanston to voice opposition to federal immigration enforcement.

Apr. 17, 2026 at 2:49am

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A dynamic, abstract painting featuring overlapping, fractured geometric shapes in bright primary colors, representing a group of students marching and chanting during a protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement.Beacon Academy students take to the streets of Evanston to protest the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement, their voices and bodies captured in a vibrant, fragmented painting.Evanston Today

Dozens of students from Beacon Academy, a small Montessori school in Evanston, Illinois, took to the streets on Wednesday afternoon to protest the actions of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstration, which took place during a period of the school day intended for students to meet with teachers, involved around 65 students in the first circuit and 20 in the second, chanting slogans against ICE and holding handmade signs with messages like 'No human is illegal' and 'ICE belongs in the rink not raids.'

Why it matters

The protest was organized in response to recent high-profile incidents involving ICE, including the detention of a 5-year-old Minnesota boy and the killing of a Minnesota woman. The students wanted to show support for immigrants and people of color, and the demonstration was inspired by walkouts at larger high schools in Chicago. The protest also highlighted the contrast between the 'sanctuary' of the school and the 'unsafe' feeling that some students experience in their home neighborhoods due to ICE activity.

The details

The students chanted slogans like 'Abolish ICE' and 'Hey hey, ho ho, I-C-E has got to go' as they walked through downtown Evanston. They held signs with messages such as 'No human is illegal' and 'ICE belongs in the rink not raids,' the latter referencing the hockey-themed TV series 'Heated Rivalry.' Beacon Academy senior Blake Dooley carried a sign that read 'Abolish ICE' on notebook paper, saying they wanted to show support for immigrants and people of color. Prior to the protest, Beacon Academy junior Sophronia Carruthers worked with leaders of the school's Latinx Club to organize a panel with students affected by federal immigration enforcement.

  • The demonstration took place on Wednesday afternoon.
  • It occurred during a period of the school day without scheduled classes, but rather time intended for students to meet with teachers.

The players

Beacon Academy

A small Montessori school in Evanston, Illinois, where the protest took place.

Sophronia Carruthers

A Beacon Academy junior who organized the protest after hearing about walkouts at larger high schools in Chicago.

Blake Dooley

A Beacon Academy senior who held a sign that read 'Abolish ICE' on notebook paper.

Liam Conejo Ramos

A 5-year-old Minnesota boy who was detained by ICE.

Renee Nicole Good

A Minnesota woman who was killed by ICE.

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What they’re saying

“All these people are being killed for just existing.”

— Blake Dooley, Beacon Academy senior

“The stark contrast between coming to school and feeling this sanctuary, and then going back home and feeling unsafe, almost without logic — the transition between feeling safe and not safe — was too disorienting.”

— Anonymous Beacon Academy student

“It just dawned on me that it's not really my issue but rather a national issue, where I do have support from other people.”

— Anonymous Beacon Academy student

“It's got to be the young people. That's what happened in Vietnam. If it wasn't for the young people that came out, that war wouldn't have been over.”

— Donna Harrison, First Ward resident

“Staying quiet would be the worst thing I could do right now.”

— Leo, Beacon Academy junior

What’s next

The Beacon Academy administration is expected to review the school's policies around student protests and activism in the coming weeks.

The takeaway

This protest by Beacon Academy students highlights the growing involvement of young people in political and social issues, particularly around immigration enforcement and the rights of marginalized communities. The demonstration also showcases the willingness of students to take action and voice their opposition to government policies they see as unjust, even during the school day.