A group of Buchanan High School Students marched two miles to Willow Station in protest of the recent immigration crack-down and fatal shootings of protestors in Minneapolis — joining in the many recent student-led protests across Fresno County.

An estimated 100 students, armed with pickets, met after school at the Buchanan library and began marching towards a more viable location: the Willow Station shopping center.

The group passed out water bottles and ensured safety with volunteers from Faith in the Valley, arriving around 4:00 p.m. to stand along Willow Ave.

“It does not matter the color of the person’s skin, who they want to date, who they want to be — everyone is free in America. And that should always be the case,” said Madeleine St. John, a senior at Buchanan. “This must be a free country. That is what it was built upon.”

Buchanan students held signs reading “ICE out” and “stop separating families,” while leading chants such as “Hey, ho. ICE has got to go.”

First ICE Protest by Clovis Unified Students

This is the first protest led by Clovis Unified students with attendees feeling a responsibility to use their voice.

“I think it’s important for our school, because we’re in a mostly Republican area,” said Ray Van Horne, a junior at Buchanan. She hopes the protest will help open people to new ideas and empower others.

The protesters were met with a mix of supportive honks and heckling from passing drivers.

“We believe that our students are best served in the classroom, supported by their teachers and school leaders,” a district spokesperson said. “We also encourage our students toward developing thinking skills and their own voice through class activities and learning experiences appropriate to school.”

Buchanan Students Stay Peaceful Amidst Heckling

The student-organized protest remained peaceful despite a few verbal confrontations between protestors and drivers.

Some adults leaned out of their windows to yell profanities at the students. Additionally, a few students drove by in trucks, revving their engines and blowing exhaust into the crowd.

“A woman walked past me and whispered in my ear, ‘You’re despicable.’ ” St John said. “And I said, ‘You know what? I guess I am. I guess standing up for human rights is despicable.’ ”

The students shared mixed sentiments of anger, sadness, and acceptance towards the heckling.

“The best way you can combat people that support that stuff is just to show them loving kindness,” said Zach, a sophomore at Clovis North who declined to give his last name. “I think that if you show them how much you love your neighbor, no matter who they are, they’ll start to feel like they are the only ones giving hate.”

But multiple students shared feelings of excitement and surprise over the student turnout with GV Wire.

“I thought there were going to like three of us awkwardly sitting on the corner of Willow Station,” said Marina, a senior at Buchanan who declined to give a last name. “I feel much less alone. And I feel like I have a community.”

The group grew as the protest continued, including a diverse array of people, with students hoping to make a change.

“I would not say it’s easy. But it is doable if you protest the right way,” said Nicole, a sophomore at Buchanan who declined to give a last name. “I think it’s important just to give awareness.”