McLean students gathered at the rock entrance to participate in a walkout during Highlander Time Flex on March 19. The walkout was organized by various clubs including the Black Student Union (BSU), Muslim Student Association, Ukrainian Club, Young Democrats and Amnesty International. Students stood up against the new policies passed by the Trump Administration during his second term.
“The protest was about a number of things, but the overall view was just fighting fascism in America and speaking up for people who can’t speak up on their own,” said senior Layla Carter, president of BSU. “For me personally, as president of the BSU, I wanted to fight against the erasure of the Black Lives Matter mural in D.C.—it felt like the erasure of culture for me.”
Walkout participants protested Trump’s handling of the Russo-Ukrainian War. In the past, Trump falsely suggested that Ukraine, not Russia, started the war; referred to the democratically elected Ukrainian President, Volodymyr Zelenskyy, as a dictator; and temporarily halted military aid to Ukraine after a tense Feb. 28 meeting at the White House with Zelenskyy.
“Our main message is about fighting for the preservation of culture and democracy, not just in Ukraine, but globally. I was mainly protesting against how Trump withdrew all aid, embarrassed Zelenskyy in the White House and how he has overall just agreed with Putin on the war while claiming he’s working towards solving it,” said senior Kalyna Mazal, founder and president of the Ukrainian Club.
The walkout also protested against immigration policies, such as an executive order allowing Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) to enter schools, hospitals and places of worship to apprehend and deport undocumented immigrants. On March 8, ICE arrested Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil outside of Columbia University, sparking protests against ICE on campuses across the U.S.
“The main message of my speech was that all of these issues—Palestine, Lebanon, ICE in schools, systemic racism and human rights abuses—are connected,” said sophomore Martina Cantua, who gave a speech during the walkout. “The walkout wasn’t just about one country or one cause but about standing against all forms of oppression both globally and locally.”
The students protesting believe that walkouts like this one can have a positive ripple effect. Several high schools around the area like Langley, Fairfax and Falls Church planned for their respective protests to happen this week.
“Even if it’s not to Trump’s face, it is important to look,” Carter said. “One big protest can do something, but a bunch of small protests can do something even more. If you have a bunch of protests everywhere, it’s going to have a larger impact than just one big protest in one place.”
Citing safety concerns, the McLean administration requested the walkout to be moved from the front of the school. While the walkout began at the rock entrance, the participants eventually marched to the front before turning back.
“The original idea that the administration had in mind was for us to protest on the practice field, but we pushed back against that, and it clearly worked,” senior Calvin Cannata said. “This administration has very clearly shown its distaste for pro-Palestinian protesters. Today, we saw that the student body is less divided on the issue than the admins would have you believe. Them wanting us to protest on the practice field was a blatant suppression of free speech.”
Students recited chants that were led by sophomore Bayann Hamed, a walkout organizer. The chants included a Slava Ukraini, a Ukrainian national slogan and battle cry popularized during the Russian invasion; “From the Sea to the River,” a pro-Palestine slogan; and a phrase in Spanish.
“We were chanting ‘El pueblo unido jamás será vencido,’ which translates to ‘The people united will never be defeated or divided,’” Carter said. “We don’t have a lot of chants that aren’t in English, and I feel like that can raise awareness about issues like ICE and immigration. Overall, it really resonated with me.”
Some students were concerned with the walkout’s message.
“There is a specific chant, ‘From the river to the sea,’ that rejects Israel’s right to exist by indicating that the entire land of Israel should be freed from the Jews,” said sophomore Gabe Agin, a pro-Israel member of the Jewish Student Association. “Whenever I hear of these Palestinian walkouts, I fear being a Jewish citizen.”
During the walkout, a McLean administrator told a walkout participant to lower a sign displaying the phrase, “From the river to the sea, Palestine will be free.” After school, Principal Ellen Reilly sent an email to McLean parents clarifying that the sign “used antisemitic language” and that “FCPS does not tolerate this kind of behavior in our schools.”
“Dear McLean High School Community,
Today during Highlander Time Flex, approximately 50 students held a walk-out. FCPS respects the rights of our students to state their opinions, as long as it is done respectfully, does not interfere with the rights of others, and does not disrupt learning in the school.
During the walkout, one student displayed a sign that used antisemitic language, and a staff member told the student to put the sign down. We want to be clear that FCPS does not tolerate this kind of behavior in our schools.This action does not align with the kind of school community we seek to cultivate.
There were three adults who tried to observe the walkout and came on to our school property. These three adults were told to leave the property immediately. For the safety of our students and staff, our school grounds are closed to the public during school hours. Parents are welcome to our campus for official school-sanctioned business only. Community members are not permitted on school property without the permission of school officials.
To address concerns or make changes for the better, school staff and students must listen to each other and then discuss solutions. We must work together to foster a positive school community, and we ask for your partnership in working with your child to discuss meaningful actions that they can take in the future to engage in their community.
Thank you for your partnership.”
— Ellen Reilly, Principal
However, the walkout participant disagrees with Reilly’s assessment.
“I didn’t lower the sign as I didn’t believe I was doing anything wrong, and we had an on-site lawyer,” the anonymous walkout participant said. “I sort of thought this would happen, but I was still somewhat shocked by how blatant they were. They were trying to demonize the statement by saying it was antisemitism, but it wasn’t.”
Undeterred, participants feel even more invigorated to keep speaking out against what they believe is unjust.
“McLean students certainly have a voice that they want to be heard and that voice was heard today,” sophomore Entisar Neji said. “I see that there is still the soul of protest alive in our school and the United States. People are not ever going to give up, and that this is going to continue happening until there is change.”
Grace • Mar 22, 2025 at 2:04 pm
Such important action from the student movement, kudos to everyone who used their voice this week.