Lincoln McQuade

Dozens of GJHS students walk down North Avenue in protest of ICE. Hundreds more followed as they protested for much of the morning of Jan 30.

Hundreds of Grand Junction High School students marched in protest of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on Friday, Jan. 30.

Organized by GJHS junior and Student Council member Lochlin Minnerath, many students held signs showing opposition to ICE. The signs included political and social messages about the United States government, Bible verses, poverty and the history of European colonialism. Students gathered in the commons before school started, and walked out the front doors of the school at 8 a.m.

“I have just seen a lot on the news, people have spoken to me about how nervous they are and how uncomfortable they are with ICE, and with all the murders that have been happening, and so I just kinda thought that we should really do something about it. I saw that the nationwide shutdown was today, and it would be the perfect time to do a walkout,” said Minnerath.

About 250 protesting students walked down North 5th Street to North Avenue and back around the school on North 7th Street, returning to the front of the school by about 8:30 a.m. GJHS principal Jory Sorensen and Mesa County Valley School District 51 administrator Ari Goldberg walked behind the students.

“They want us to be silenced against protesting them. They’ve taken multiple measures to silence social media, and saying that we’re paid, and whatnot, when that’s just not true,” said GJHS junior Jaymon Bassett during the protest.

Some students left the protest at that point to attend classes. Many of them later walked through the Colorado Mesa University campus and through downtown Grand Junction. 

“I believe that everyone deserves happiness and safety, and I think that no one deserves to be shot and hurt and taken away from their families. We need to be a safe haven for people. America needs to be a safe haven.,” said GJHS freshman Lucia Rivera, who participated in the protest.

Other schools in the district such as Central High School and Palisade High School also planned walkout protests against ICE.

“I believe that everybody has the right to come to a country where they can get a better life for them and their children,” said GJHS senior protester Ysabel Arrieta.

D51 sent an email at 9:21 p.m. Thursday with the subject: “Important Information Regarding Student-Led Walkouts.”

The email included this statement: “The district does not organize, endorse, or oppose student walkouts. However, we do recognize students’ rights to peaceful expression, and our role is to ensure the safety of students and staff while maintaining a respectful learning environment.”

According to Sorensen, it is against D51 policy for students to protest in the commons. He also said that D51 communicated about the then-upcoming protests well.

“Students were very safe, and as a group they got a lot of attention,” Sorensen said

The last time a large-scale student protest occurred at GJHS was Jan 20, 2023, when students walked out in response to allegations against a teacher accused of abuse. According to Sorensen, students planned a protest against the student dress code in the 2024-2025 school year, although it never materialized.

“Ice is affecting everybody in this country, whether they like to believe it or not, because nobody is safe anymore,” said GJHS sophomore protester Ailyn Ferris.

According to The Guardian, anti-ICE protests were held nationwide on Jan 30. Many protesters did not go to work and school, and they marched in anger about the deaths of Renee Good and Alex Pretti. Both of whom were killed by on-duty ICE agents in Minnesota in January 2026.