In a powerful display of activism last week, the Providence Student Union orchestrated a significant, student-driven protest, calling for a walkout from the city’s public schools in opposition to ICE practices.
On Monday, the student union took to Facebook to rally support with an emphatic message: “STUDENTS OF PPSD: WALK OUT FOR JUSTICE.” The post outlined their intentions for a district-wide walkout scheduled for Friday at 1:30 PM, urging students from the Providence Public School District to express their dissent against the perceived injustices perpetrated by ICE. This demonstration was also in solidarity with Minneapolis, which had initiated a call for a nationwide shutdown in response to the ongoing violence and distress inflicted by federal immigration enforcement.
The post emphasized the peaceful nature of this movement, describing it as a student-led initiative aiming to demand accountability, dignity, and humanity for immigrant communities. The message resonated deeply, sparking a wave of action and engagement among students eager to make their voices heard.
On the day of the protest, January 30, 2026, the streets of Providence were filled with hundreds of participants, many of whom were schoolchildren. They marched through the city, carrying signs denouncing ICE, as captured by Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital. The air was charged with a sense of urgency and determination, encapsulated in the rallying cry, “If we don’t stand now, when will we?”
Subsequent posts from the student union continued to criticize federal immigration enforcement, underscoring their commitment to advocating for change and standing up for the rights of immigrant communities.
Later posts railed against federal immigration enforcement authorities.
“This walk out is about refusing terror against immigrant communities and calling for justice and showing student power,” said one post, adding graphics that further explained the goals of the walkout. “Dress warm, show up, and share, share, share — the more people who know, the stronger our message. We cant [sic] wait to see you all there!”
Protesters march against ICE in Providence on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Hundreds of protesters, many of them school children (not shown), holding anti-ICE signs march through the city. (Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital)
The stated goal of the walkout was solidarity with the Minneapolis activists who have been wreaking havoc amid federal immigration enforcement operations for months. In particular, the group honored Renee Good and Alex Pretti, anti-ICE agitators who died at the hands of law enforcement.
The Providence Student Union is officially unaffiliated with the school district, and operates as a donor-funded nonprofit organization. On 2025 tax forms, the group reported that it paid more than $76,000 to officers, directors, trustees and key employees, and almost $300,000 in “other salaries and wages.”
Protesters march against ICE in Providence on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Hundreds of protesters, many of them school children (not shown), holding anti-ICE signs march through the city. (Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital)
Its leadership team is composed of adults. Fox News Digital also captured images of many adults protesting alongside students in Rhode Island’s capitol city on Friday.
Rhode Island activist Nicole Solas said adults shouldn’t use students as pawns in political games.
“Adults should not be paid to encourage or organize students to leave school for political activism,” she said. “Do the students know adults make money off the students’ activism? Students should not be exploited as cash cows for the political scheming of adults.”
Hundreds of protesters, many of them school children (not shown), holding anti-ICE signs march through the city. (Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital)
She also said districts should prohibit “outside groups from organizing students to use school time for political activism, especially when it financially benefits adults.”
Good was shot and killed earlier this month by an ICE agent while shadowing federal law enforcement in her vehicle. Upon a confrontation with law enforcement, she drove her car forward. The agent, standing in front of her vehicle, opened fire.
Pretti, who had disrupted law enforcement on at least one other occasion before his death, tussled with Border Patrol agents before he was shot dead last Saturday. He was armed with a handgun at the time.
Hundreds of protesters, many of them school children (not shown), holding anti-ICE signs march through the city. (Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital)
A spokesperson for the Providence Public School District reiterated that it is unaffiliated with the Providence Student Union, and that the event was not sponsored or chaperoned by district employees.
“We are not aware of staff members participating in the event,” the spokesperson said. “A PPSD staff member would have had to take personal or vacation time if they had wanted to participate as it was not a school chaperoned event.”
The Providence Student Union did not return a request for comment.
