By Jack Reaney SENIOR EDITOR
At 10:30 a.m. on Friday morning, Jan. 30, dozens of Lone Peak High School and Ophir Middle School students burst through the double doors with smiles, hand-written signs and extracurricular motivation to protest the controversial presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement throughout U.S. cities in recent months.
Students led by sophomore Jack Barzizza, and seniors Hana Mittelsteadt and Harper Morris organized a walkout from classes and a 15-minute march on school grounds. The Big Sky School District administration did not provide any leadership or spark the initiative, but did support the students when they announced their plans.
“Not just for this district—I think any time you see students gathering, organizing peacefully… about something that they’re passionate about, is what we want for the future leaders of our country,” Superintendent Dr. Dustin Shipman told EBS as students marched on the walking path beside U.S. Highway 191, earning scattered honks from trucks. “The kids were really respectful, talked to administration prior to this event. And as you can see or hear, [they’re] quite well organized and peaceful—but passionate.”
After their march, the students circled up in the parking lot and offered the floor to anyone wanting to share thoughts about this polarizing moment in United States history.
“Your voice and opinion is welcomed,” Mittelstaedt told her fellow students. Students cheered as junior Ursula Blyth volunteered to share a few words about the fear felt in schools in cities nationwide, such as Minneapolis, she noted.
“Thank you guys all for showing up and standing up for all the people who are not being treated fairly,” Blyth said.
GALLERY BY JACK REANEY AND JASON MITTELSTAEDT
Morris concluded the huddle. “Just because we’re in a small town doesn’t mean our voices don’t matter and aren’t heard,” she said. “So every little thing we do does help… I’m proud of all of us.”
The students mobilized to Town Center where they’d march alongside local businesses. EBS caught up with Morris and Mittelstaedt as their peers piled into cars.
“I think that so much courage is being gathered and built up around the country, and even in such a small town I can really feel it,” Mittelstaedt said. “And it’s so moving—I didn’t know that this big of a turnout was going to happen.”
Students estimated at least three quarters of the student body chose to participate in the demonstration.
“And it’s just so empowering,” Mittelstaedt said. “I love choosing love first.”
Morris added, “Our community is very centered around togetherness and unity, which is why I think we had such a big turnout. Because we all support each other, we all fight for what we believe in, and we’re not scared to back down from a challenge.”
Big Sky students joined school walkouts across the U.S., from San Jose to Sacramento to nearby Bozeman. Many walkouts were inspired by a national shutdown campaign for Jan. 30, endorsed by University of Minnesota student groups and organizations all over the country.
As for students who did not agree with the purpose, Mittelstaedt explained that organizers respected everyone’s individual viewpoint.
“There’s no judgement or degradation based on those opinions,” Mittelstaedt said. “… Part of our goal today was not to pressure people into doing something that made them uncomfortable, but instead to create a group and a community of support. And that was our main focus.”
