Students protest on the intersection of Arizona Avenue and Chandler Boulevard. One student holds an upside down American flag, a signal of danger to life, and often used in political protest. 01/26/2026

Students cross Arizona Avenue, holding up signs and loudly cheering. Many chanted, “We want justice! We want peace! We want ICE off our streets!” 01/26/2026

Protestors use whistles to create additional noise and protestors with flags cross back and forth between the streets. 01/26/2026

Judah, a senior, joined the protest and held up a poster reading, “Immigrants don’t scare me but the fascists in power do.” Many students will be eligible to vote in the midterm election and engage in democracy. 01/26/2026

Students peacefully cross Arizona Avenue, while obeying traffic laws. 01/26/2026

From left, Jolie, Devon, Maya, and Samantha hold up a sign reading, “LIBERTY & JUSTICE 4 ALL.” 01/26/2026

The crowd spills out of CHS at the beginning of the walkout and fill every corner of the intersection. 01/26/2026

Noise fills the air of the intersection as the crowd roars and whistles blow. Most cars that pass honk in approval, while other drivers make vulgar hand gestures. 01/26/2026

A protestor’s sign reads, “If this is about criminals. Why did you elect one?” This refers to past criminal convictions on President Trump. 01/26/2026

Protestors cross Chandler Boulevard in great spirits, despite the cold weather during the walkout. 01/26/2026

A student holds a carboard sign that reads, “Yall didn’t care about immigrants when they came on slave boats.” 01/26/2026

It was evident students prepared for the walkout through homemade signs regarding ICE, such as, “History is screaming, are you listening?” 01/26/2026

News coverage by 12News and Fox 10 Phoenix reported on the CHS walkout. A helicopter could be heard and seen circling closely overhead the intersection. 01/26/2026

While the intent of the protest was focused on the ICE policies under the Trump administration, protestors also took the opportunity to voice their opinion on the government itself. 01/26/2026

Protestors hold up an American flag. The school made it clear that they would protect the students’ first amendment rights to protest, but that they would still mark absences. 01/26/2026

A sign quotes 1984, by George Orwell, reading, “‘The party told you to reject the evidence of your eyes and ears. It was their final, most essential command.'” This book is among assigned reading in CUSD curriculum. 01/26/2026

This vehicle with a large Mexican flag passed through the intersection over 20 times, eliciting cheers from protestors. 01/26/2026

This student references a quote by Martin Niemöller with their poster. It is a true confession of his mistakes and highlights the dangers of silence. 01/26/2026

A protestor holds up a sign stating, “When cruelty becomes normal, compassion becomes radical.” 01/26/2026

Some criticized the walkout, accusing students of simply trying to skip class. However many in the crowd enthusiastically cheered with posters in hand. 01/26/2026

Students hold up messages such as, “Ice out of our communities,” and “Privilege is when you think something is not a problem because you aren’t affected personally.” 01/26/2026

Students joined last minute creating posters out of notebook paper. A protestor writes, “Prison without due process is a concentration camp.” 01/26/2026

Overall, many protestors saw the walkout as a positive experience. It remained nonviolent and encourage engagement within the community. 01/26/2026