School Walkout Ignites Aurora Protest: Students Arrested, Officer Injured Amid Tensions with ICE

In Aurora, Illinois, a group of young activists convened on Tuesday evening to demand the resignation of a suburban police chief following a protest the previous day that concluded with the arrests of three students and an injury to a police officer.

One of the arrested students shared with ABC7 his experience, claiming that despite following police instructions, he was still taken down forcefully.

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Newly surfaced video footage shows the moment three students from East Aurora High School were detained on the sidewalk during Monday’s walkout. The demonstration, which included roughly 1,500 participants, was organized to protest ongoing operations by Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Among those apprehended was 15-year-old freshman Johnny Alcantar. Recalling the incident, Alcantar said, “I was scared because I couldn’t breathe when they both jumped on me. I complied by moving to the sidewalk, but then out of nowhere, they said, ‘Stay right there, we’re going to detain you.’ When I asked why, I was pulled by my shirt, spun around, and thrown to the ground.”

Law enforcement officials allege that Alcantar and another boy engaged in actions that created “unsafe conditions” and that they resisted the officers’ instructions.

Police claim Alcantar and another boy were doing actions that made for “unsafe conditions,” and resisting officers.

While they were being detained, investigators told ABC7, a third student punched an officer in the head.

All three, seen in a video being led into a police vehicle, are now charged with improper walking in the roadway, obstructing, and resisting a peace officer.The third boy is also facing a charge of aggravated battery to a police officer.

Demonstrators, a day later, gathered outside the Aurora Police Department, briefly redirecting their focus from federal officers to local ones.

“We demand the charges against these students be dropped immediately, and that the police officers involved be investigated and held accountable for excessive use of force against minors,” said demonstrator Natalie Wakileh.

Aurora police told ABC7 that they were aware of the demonstration outside the department, saying they support the community’s right to gather and express their views peacefully, but stopped short of responding to the demonstrators’ demands.