At about 11 AM on a sunny but still chili Wednesday morning (Feb 11th), a crowd of Danville High School students estimated to be around 280 walked outside through the DHS Clock Tower entrance and headed for the southeast corner of Fairchild and North Vermilion, in a protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Prior to the start of the demonstration, DHS juniors Terriana Wooten and Paige Norton talked about briefly stepping away from their own educations to educate others about the problems with ICE.
AUDIO: (Terriana Wooten) This is something that should matter, and something that should have attention brought to it. So, I’m doing this to hopefully bring more attention and raise more awareness. (Paige Norton) We’re giving up our education to educate older people and other people that don’t have a lesson learned on this. And I think we need to learn more about it.
After rallying at Fairchild and Vermilion, students walked south on Vermilion, with students and cars both being heard.
While that was happening, various DHS staff and administrators were watching from a distance, including District 118 Superintendent John Hart. He described what he was feeling as overwhelming. Yes, student absences from class will be treated like any other unexcused absence, and this is not something that administration necessarily supports or condones. But at the same time, he told CIMG that this moment belonged to the participating DHS students.
AUDIO: I’m glad that the kids were able to organize and to utilize their constitutional rights to demonstrate, and they did it in a way that’s respectful. As far as I know, the kids are returning back to school They wanted to be heard. They wanted to be seen. And I believe they accomplished that. I think for the administration to speak on this is pretty tough, because I really think today should be about the student voice.
A statement later released by District 118 stated that this moment belongs to the students who organized and participated in it.
COMPLETE STATEMENT RELEASED BY DISTRICT 118
Earlier today, a group of Danville High School students chose to exercise their constitutional right to peaceful assembly by gathering off school grounds to make their voices heard on an important issue to them.
At 10:55 a.m., participating students exited the school in an orderly manner, walked to the corner of Fairchild and south on Vermilion Street, and engaged in a brief demonstration. The entire student-led activity lasted approximately 1 hour.
This demonstration was organized independently by students, without involvement or direction from Danville High School or District 118. Students remained off school property throughout the event. Law enforcement was present only to ensure student safety, and school staff maintained a distant, unobtrusive presence for the same purpose.
Today’s actions highlight something worth recognizing: our students understand their rights, they value their voices, and they care deeply about issues that impact their community and their world. Their willingness to engage in civic expression reflects an important part of growing into thoughtful, informed citizens.
We encourage members of the media who wish to learn more about today’s demonstration to speak directly with the students who organized and participated in it. This moment belongs to them.
Respectfully,
John P. Hart
