On February 9, 2026, students from Muscatine High School organized a walkout to raise their voices about national events unfolding in Minneapolis, Minnesota, particularly recent controversial immigration enforcement actions. A fatal shooting of a civilian by a federal immigration officer has sparked protests and outrage across the country.
Across the nation, similar walkouts have been organized, with students from different states coming together to advocate for change on today’s pressing national issues.
The original coordinator, Melvin George, decided to organize the movement after being inspired by Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl performance, which sparked a desire in him to bring students together and stand for unity in his own community.
He also stated his personal displeasure with ICE in Minnesota: “Minnesota is my home state, and I am very angry with the recent brutalization of the citizens there. I have family there that had to deal with ICE.”
Amidst this chain of events, what began as a spontaneous idea quickly grew into a purposeful walk through some of Muscatine’s most important locations.
Students congregated at the main doors of the high school. “We went towards the courthouse and protested there. We passed the police station, and ended it downtown,” Melvin said.
“As we were striding along Muscatine, we knew that we were there for one reason. To represent the town’s future, justice system, and authority.”
Throughout the walk, the message they aimed to spread was clear and powerful: the only thing more powerful than hate is love.
During the protest, students reported being criticized by strangers passing by. At one point, a man followed the group while shouting profane and harmful statements, including “Go back to where you came from.”
MHS senior Mia Huerta, who participated in the protest, reflected on the experience and the messages directed at her classmates.
“The man who was harassing some of my classmates was very heartbreaking to see,” Mia said.
Although the interaction was concerning, Mia shared that the importance of the cause outweighed the fear many students felt.
“I was sorta scared when it came to this protest. We all were just trying to raise our voices, but some people just will try to silence us,” she said.
The student-led protest also sparked discussion across public online platforms.
“Although we didn’t always have such positive feedback from people within the community, I know that my peers were very confident that what we did would open people’s eyes,” Mia noted.
While negative reactions and hurtful messages from some community members created tension, the purpose of the protest remained clear and was strongly supported by many students. The demonstration itself was carried out peacefully and intentionally.
Following the protest, Muscatine High School Principal Ryan Castle sent a message to Muskie families. While acknowledging students’ emotions and experiences, the message also emphasized the importance of maintaining safety for everyone, reflecting the same concern shared by many staff members throughout the day, whose primary goal was to ensure that students remained safe.
Mr. Castle’s message read:
