At 3 p.m. yesterday, the hallways of Akins High School emptied not for the final bell, but in a coordinated act of protest. 

Hundreds of students walked out of class to protest recent Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions in Minneapolis and local raids in Austin, demanding an end to what they describe as the “cruelty” of current immigration enforcement.

The walkout, organized by four students over the weekend, gained rapid momentum through the Instagram account “AkinsForChange.” By Wednesday, the campus was buzzing with preparation as students were seen crafting protest signs both at home and in common areas on campus.

Akins Administration did not get in the way of the protest. Instead, they provided School Resource Officers (SRO) to help with the security measures.

“Our primary focus is on maintaining a campus where everyone feels safe, respected and heard,” said Interim Principal Carman DeLeon in a email sent to parents on Wednesday a day before the protest.

Gathering and Speeches

The protest began as students congregated near the exits of the Green Hall and Fine Arts hallways. Before the march commenced, organizers addressed the crowd via megaphone.

“Our message definitely is to let the younger generation know that they have a voice and they have the ability to be able to speak,” said senior Adeleah Cardenas, one of the lead organizers. During her speech, she emphasized the importance of peace and education, noting that “the world wants to keep us scared, and we can’t keep it like that.”

Senior Chris Herard, another organizer, highlighted the human cost of recent enforcement actions.

“We just need to speak on the cruelty that’s happening… based on what ICE is doing,” he said. “As a school and just as people, we need to have a lot more empathy for these situations.”

The March

Following the speeches, the group exited campus and began a two-mile march along the sidewalk of South First Street. The procession reached Slaughter Lane before turning back, with protesters carrying signs and chanting for reform. The organizers prioritized safety, ensuring the event remained peaceful and that all participants returned to campus by 4:35 p.m., just before the official end of the school day.

The motivation for many was personal. Cardenas shared a story of an elderly couple in her neighborhood and the experiences of her mother, a pre-K teacher.

“She has had quite a few of her kids be taken away by ICE,” Cardenas said. “Seeing my mom fighting this for years and just for it to be crumbling down right now is very unfortunate.”

Addressing the ‘Hurdles’

Despite the turnout, organizers faced skepticism during the planning phase. Senior Aydin Speros said that some doubted the student body’s resolve.

“We definitely had some people tell us that people weren’t going to show up… and that Akins really has never had a history of successful, meaningful protests,” Speros said. “We sort of hope to prove them wrong today.”

Fellow organizer Jason Carrasco Rodriguez reported that some flyers for the event were even taken down prior to the walkout.

“That was probably one of the biggest hurdles—just thinking that people might not show up,” he said.

The Aftermath: Reflections on a “Surreal” Turnout

By Friday morning, the mood on campus had shifted from nervous anticipation to a sense of accomplishment. Organizers reported a surge in social media engagement and interest from other schools looking to replicate the walkout.

“I felt very proud of ourselves, that we had such a positive turnout,” Cardenas said the day after the event.

She recalled a specific moment during the march that overwhelmed her.

“I literally just turned around and I start crying because I just see so many people here. Like, oh my god, we made this happen.”

Speros described the feeling of seeing the crowd as “surreal.” He noted the contrast between the school’s past and the unity shown during the march.

“Akins going from our freshman year, when there was a fight in the cafeteria every other day, to now… arguing for one thing we can all agree on,” he said. “The line went as far back as you could see.”

Carrasco Rodriguez, who admitted to being nervous throughout the day of the protest, felt the impact was confirmed by the community’s reaction.

“We had cars honking at us, supporting this,” he said. “I hope this lights a spark in the underclassmen so that they continue this… to stand up for what’s right.”

Student Voices

The impact was felt beyond the organizing committee. Senior Camila Talavera-Negrete, a student participant, joined despite seeing negative comments online suggesting no one would show up.

“When I actually arrived… I was very surprised,” she said. “I just felt proud that I was able to be part of that.”

Sophomore Sonia Martinez-Garcia, another student who attended, shared the same sentiment despite the physical toll of the two-mile trek. “After the protest, I was tired. My legs were hurting and I was dehydrated,” she said. “But I was happy I was a part of it.”

As of Friday, the “AkinsForChange” account continues to receive messages from across the district. According to the organizers, several schools have reached out to use the Akins walkout as “inspiration” for their own future actions.

Follow AkinsForChange on Instagram for further updates on student-led initiatives.

Madison Staman contributed to this article.