" We can’t stay quiet anymore, We must speak up now.” :Students Say Fear and Personal Experiences Drove Monterey High School ICE Protest

Students involved in a recent protest near Monterey High School say their demonstration was driven by fear, personal experiences, and concern for people in their community impacted by immigration enforcement.

In a message shared with The806er, one student explained why they chose to participate, saying the protest was “very important to us because our own people are getting picked up from their own streets.” The student described the situation as personal, adding that a friend’s neighbor was recently taken into custody, which pushed them to speak out.

The student said they declined to send video but wanted their message shared publicly. “We can’t stay quiet anymore,” the message read. “We must speak up now.”

The student also claimed that after the protest began, some of the students were stopped by police. They said they were unsure whether arrests were made and left the area shortly afterward. As of now, there has been no official confirmation from authorities regarding arrests or citations related to the protest.

The demonstration focused on opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, commonly known as ICE, and reflected broader concerns about immigration enforcement and its impact on families.

No injuries or major disruptions were reported, and officials have not released additional details. The situation continues to generate discussion as students and community members react to the protest and the claims shared by those involved.