High school students across Coachella Valley walk out in coordinated protests over ICE activity

High school students across the Coachella Valley participated in coordinated walkout demonstrations today, joining a nationwide protest focused on concerns surrounding recent activity by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

According to organizers and families, more than 100 students took part in walkouts between La Quinta, Palm Desert, and Coachella Valley High School alone. Additional demonstrations were reported on the west side of the Valley, including students from Cathedral City High School and James Workman Middle School, who walked together toward City Hall.

Students said they wanted their voices heard on issues affecting their communities, emphasizing that age should not prevent young people from speaking out. Throughout the walkouts, classmates were met with cheers from bystanders along sidewalks, while some parents stepped in to provide water and snacks as students made their way through neighborhood streets.

Several parents became emotional as they watched their children participate.

One parent told NBC Palm Springs she left work briefly just to see her daughter walk by, saying she wanted to show support and pride for students standing up for something bigger than themselves.

Local law enforcement and school security were present during the demonstrations, helping ensure students remained safe as they moved between campuses and gathering areas. Officials stressed the importance of allowing students to exercise free speech while keeping public safety a top priority.

Not all protests were limited to the east Valley. Students in Cathedral City also joined the effort, walking together toward City Hall as part of the broader day of action.

Our Brett Rosen spoke with students, parents, and officials throughout the day as demonstrations unfolded across multiple Valley communities.

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