Thousands of students, activists and community members across Tucson took to campuses and city streets on the one-year anniversary of President Donald Trump’s inauguration, participating in coordinated “Free America” protests against immigration enforcement practices and other policies of the current administration.

Five high schools in the metro area participated in the effort, including Sunnyside, Catalina, Tucson, Pueblo and Rincon/University.

More than 800 Rincon/University High School students walked out of their classrooms at 1:30 p.m. and lined up behind the campus gate facing North Swan Road, chanting, “No ICE, no fear, immigrants are welcomed here!” and “Brick by brick, wall by wall, this racist system has to fall!”

Students carried signs reading “Fight ignorance, not immigrants” and “Be Good,” in reference to Renee Good, a Minneapolis woman who was fatally shot by an ICE agent while moving her car during a raid.

University High student Dennis Ayala, one of the walkout’s organizers, is a member of the Latino Student Union, a club that provides a space for Latino students to share their culture while also encouraging conversations about injustices facing the Latino community.

The club recently attended a Marana City Council meeting, where Ayala spoke against the potential construction of an ICE facility.

“My club started as a silent protest because we weren't sure if (students) were going to be willing to participate in a walkout,” Ayala told Tucson Spotlight. “When we saw people actually wanting to do it, then we were like, this is something that is possible. This is something that could make a difference.”

What began as a conversation about a potential walkout grew into students reaching out to groups such as the Party of Socialism and Liberation and the ACLU to ask about student protest rights, local laws and what school districts allow.

Valerie Serna, another University High student who helped with logistics for the walkout, said she wanted students to feel included in the larger national protest while keeping the demonstration on campus to ensure it was safe and accessible.

“We know our students are aware of what's going on,” Serna said. “We know they have empathy and want to help, but it's very hard for students to feel like they can do something.”

The walkout was personal for both students. Ayala, whose uncle was detained by ICE, said reported ICE presence at grocery stores such as El Super and shopping centers including the Tucson Spectrum has affected his family’s sense of normalcy.

“This is an issue that affects me and my family to a severe level. It’s terrifying sometimes to know that my family is going there and they're at risk,” Ayala said.

As anti-immigrant rhetoric has increased, Serna said her family members have experienced more prejudice.

“My parents are both believers of the American dream. They come from countries where there's war, (they go) to the U.S. for something better, and (that) something better is being seen as somebody who doesn't contribute anything,” Serna said. “I'm worried about my friends. I'm worried about their families. It's not safe to go anywhere.”

Both students said they hope the protest helps broaden awareness of issues directly affecting local communities and builds a sense of solidarity for students facing similar challenges.

“Students are the forefront of change,” Ayala said. “Students are going to always be the people who make a difference.”

University of Arizona students also participated, walking out of classrooms at 1:30 p.m. to gather and make signs for afternoon protests planned in downtown Tucson.

Led by the Party of Socialism and Liberation, the group disrupted the usual quiet at the Student Union with chants and the banging of pans.

PSL member Arian Chavez has participated in several protests in the year since Trump returned to office. He said the past year has only reinforced the need for continued protest.

“In this first short year we have already seen the cutbacks on reproductive rights, and the blatant militarization of ICE,” Chavez said. “All of this is in culmination to fight back not only against the repressive policies we see domestically, but also in other nations.”

Students marched to the Sun Link stop by the Student Union, carrying signs and packing into the streetcar. By 4 p.m., the group had joined a larger crowd at Congress Street and Granada Avenue, the official site of the protest.

People lined both sides of the street and the median, holding signs, shouting, whistling, blowing noisemakers and banging pots and pans.

Some protesters brought real drums, adding a musical element to the gathering.

Hannah Hagen, a student researcher at the UA, joined the protest because of what she called borderline illegal activities by ICE agents.

“The corruption our country is facing right now is pretty dark,” she said. “I hope somebody else stands up to this bullying.”

Dave Maxwell, 73, a retired construction manager, said he has attended 13 protests since Trump’s inauguration last year and had never protested before then. He participated with the same vigor as other protesters.

The protest moved along Broadway Boulevard as it gained momentum, with a crowd of more than 1,000 people marching down the middle of the street and blocking traffic.

They chanted phrases including “Chinga la migra,” “Justice for Renee Nicole Good” and “Abolish ICE.”

The group continued marching up Broadway before wrapping back around to return to Congress Street, as people watched from businesses and balconies.

The march returned to its starting point in front of the Federal Building, where organizers set up a loudspeaker for remarks from community activists. Groups including No Data Centers and Veterans for Peace addressed the crowd as the protest continued into the evening.

“It’s breaking the law, it’s breaking the Constitution, everything (Trump) does,” Maxwell said.

Topacio “Topaz” Servellon is a reporter with Tucson Spotlight. Contact them at topacioserve@gmail.com.

Quentin Agnello is a University of Arizona alum and freelance journalist in Tucson. Contact him at qsagnello@gmail.com.

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