D.C. Students Lead Walkout Against ICE

February 4, 2026

Howard University freshman Zahir Kalam Id-Din organized a student-led protest on January 30 in response to escalating ICE violence, including fatal shootings in Minneapolis that killed Renee Good and Alex Pretti earlier that month. Several hundred students from Howard, University of Maryland College Park, and other local schools marched through freezing conditions from Franklin Park to the White House as part of a nationwide anti-ICE shutdown. The demonstration emphasized intergenerational collaboration, with organizers seeking support from civil rights activists and the D.C.-based Black Panther Movement to provide guidance and security.

Who is affected

Renee Good and Alex Pretti (killed by ICE in January)
Eight people who have died in ICE custody and raids this year
Black and brown immigrant communities facing fear and deportation
Howard University students and students from University of Maryland College Park and other local campuses
Black immigrants like Nadine Seiler from Trinidad
Members of the Iota Phi Theta Fraternity Inc. and the Divine Nine organizations
D.C. residents living along the protest route

What action is being taken

Several hundred college students marched from Franklin Park to the White House on January 30
Students walked out of virtual classes to participate in the demonstration
Students chanted slogans, waved signs, and called bystanders to action
The D.C.-based Black Panther Movement provided speakers, security, advisers, and legal observers for the protest
Metropolitan Police Department provided blockades along the protest route
Participants are resisting ICE collaboration with law enforcement

Why it matters

This protest represents a critical response to escalating ICE violence that has resulted in multiple deaths, with eight fatalities already occurring this year in ICE custody and raids. The demonstration is significant because it showcases student activism addressing the intersection of immigration enforcement and racial justice, particularly affecting Black and brown immigrant communities who face both racial profiling and deportation threats. The intergenerational collaboration between young activists and experienced civil rights leaders ensures knowledge transfer and movement sustainability. For participants like Nadine Seiler, the protest addresses existential threats outlined in Project 2025 targeting both Black and immigrant communities, making resistance essential for survival and community protection.

What's next

No explicit next steps stated in the article

Read full article from source: The Washington Informer