Following several deaths of civilians at anti-ICE protests across Minnesota, numerous activist organizations including 50501 (50 States, 50 Protests, 1 Day) and nationalshutdown.org have begun endorsing and organizing a Jan. 30 National Shut Down.

According to nationalshutdown.org, which is currently keeping a list of registered actions across the country, the goal of the shutdown is to garner radical attention to national anti-ICE sentiment. On its website, the organization’s goal is “to stop ICE’s reign of terror” and “SHUT IT DOWN.” Their website’s slogan “NO WORK. NO SCHOOL. NO SHOPPING. STOP FUNDING ICE.” outlines how people can contribute to the shutdown.

In the Midpeninsula, Palo Alto High School, Gunn High School, Los Altos High School and Mountain View High School are a set of participating schools, each hosting a respective “walkout.”

Palo Alto High School

At Palo Alto High, sophomores Julia Walsh and Marty Bermudez and juniors Kit Wendling, Brian Miller Jr., Leilani Chen, Maya Cheng, Kate Lindstrom and Kendall Butler are the event’s organizers.

The walkout is set to occur at noon, 20 minutes before the conclusion of students’ sixth period, and take place along El Camino Real.

Miller said the decision to protest ICE’s recent activity was made simple by asking himself one question: If students don’t protest, who else will?

“We’re young, full of energy and ability, so it’s our responsibility to put it to use and fight for something we believe in,” Miller said.

According to Miller, walkout attendance is expected to be “vast.” Miller said a set of students from Castilleja School, Palo Alto High’s neighbor down Embarcadero Road, is attending the walkout, too.

For senior Ria Mirchandani, participating in the protest is a way to — peacefully, she added — wield power against the Trump administration.

“The point of these walkouts and the point of the peaceful protest throughout the country is to show our government and our legislators locally and on a national level that this is not OK,” Mirchandani said. “You can’t just send untrained officers to take … children from their families without a system, because our country is built on laws and neglecting those laws is really disrespectful to us [in the U.S.].”

In an email to parents of Palo Alto High students, Principal Brent Kline acknowledged the walkout and notified parents of a California law (SB 955) allowing students one excused absence per year for participation in a civic or political event “when advance notice is provided to the school.”

“We appreciate your partnership in reinforcing the importance of communication, attendance, and respectful behavior as students engage with meaningful civic issues,” Klein said.

Los Altos High School

Los Altos High sophomores Lara Tait, Tilly Burgart and Valerie Zhou organized their school’s student walkout, which runs from 9:50 a.m. during the last ten minutes of the school’s second period until 11:25 a.m, ten minutes after fourth period begins.

“It’s really important to get out there and express your opinion,” Tait said. “Planning this has been such an experience for me. … It’s something that is actually an important skill.”

The entire walkout was planned in less than 24 hours, Zhou said. The group created an Instagram account with the intention of spreading the word on the walkout and reached out to several news stations to cover the event.

“People are generally pretty divided into cliques, but there have been so many people that have just [reached out] to me,” Zhou said. “It’s gonna be so nice to be brought together because we want to be.”

The LAHS walkout organizers also intend to have student speakers sharing speeches and poems, according to Burgart.

The LAHS administration responded to word of the walkout via ParentSquare, acknowledging the event and the California law that allows for one annual excused absence for civic and political affairs. The MVLA district has confirmed that the walkout falls under the ED Code 48205 SB955 and students can get excused absences if parents contact attendance and confirm their students’ intent to participate in the protest.

Principal Tracey Runeare stated in the message that District employees are not authorized to organize or endorse the walkout but are recommended not to prevent students from walking out.

Burgart said they expect 75 to 100 students to attend the walkout.

“People are being murdered, and that’s not okay,” Tait said. “We’re protesting the murders that ICE has been doing. They’ve killed nine people in 2026. … It’s unethical, [and] it’s morally wrong.”

Mountain View High School

At Mountain View High, the walkout’s organizer asked the Post to remain anonymous. An Instagram account created this evening, @mvhs.walkout, informed students of the protest.

“Opposing ICE requires more than belief — it requires action,” the anonymous organizer said. “Now is the moment to stand up, use your First Amendment rights and make your voice heard through protest and public expression. What is unfolding in Minneapolis and across the country is unjust, violates constitutional principles and must be challenged. Silence is not an option.”

According to the account, at noon, students are expected to meet in the main quad, with signs and walk all the way to El Camino.

The anonymous organizer expects 50 students to attend, based on Instagram polls.

“My interest is to once again spread awareness and have a peaceful protest,” the account said.

The account clarified that sophomore Caroline Hill is providing materials for signs.

Another Mountain View High protest Instagram account, @mvhs.for.justice, identifies themselves as “students for equality & humanity & justice” in their bio.

The anonymous admin of the account posted explanations of the freedoms established in the First Amendment, as well as the due process clause, which they define as “just & fair treatment of everyone, no matter their background or immigration status.” They urge Mountain View High students to walk to El Camino Real, “make noise” and “make your voice heard,” also adding that “ICE doesn’t belong in our schools!”

Gunn High School

At Gunn High School, sophomores Noa Zeitlin and Kai Knutson are two of several organizers of the walkout, which begins at 1 p.m. and ends at 1:50 p.m., during the school’s Study Hall and SELF period.

“It’s important that students protest because it gets people in power to pay attention,” Zeitlin said. “I have heard some people saying that it’s useless, but I absolutely disagree. It brings the community together, makes people feel less alone and gets people’s attention. … Anything is better than complacency.”

Zeitlin said Gunn High’s walkout was inspired by a similar upcoming event at Aragon High School.

The Instagram account publicizing the event, @walkoutatgunn, said participating students should walk out of Gunn High and onto Arastradero Road.

The Instagram account has been sharing different news and plans since Jan. 28, showcasing sample posters and reminding viewers of how they should and shouldn’t act in a peaceful protest.

Sophomore Leah Moss said that this protest is part of a broader collective effort to, hopefully, enact the change she — and many — wants to see.

“To see actual results we need people all throughout the country to participate, and I think Gunn’s just doing its part,” she said. “People are going to care when high schools and organizations all throughout America are protesting.”

Zeitlin said Gunn High’s administration has been “great.” The administration has not expressed support for a certain political movement, but, according to Zeitlin, they communicated with Gunn High students clearly and provided the support of the campus supervisors during tomorrow’s walkout.