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Throughout the previous week, the Providence Student Union actively encouraged a “student-led” walkout protesting against ICE, urging participation from students across the city’s public schools.
In a Facebook post shared on Monday, the student union called on students with the message, “STUDENTS OF PPSD: WALK OUT FOR JUSTICE.” The announcement aimed to rally collective action and draw attention to the cause.
“This Friday at 1:30 PM, students throughout the Providence Public School District will walk out to voice their opposition to the injustices perpetrated by ICE,” the post declared. “They will also express solidarity with Minneapolis, which is advocating for a nationwide protest in response to the continuous violence and harm inflicted by federal immigration enforcement. This peaceful, student-led demonstration seeks to demand accountability, dignity, and humanity for immigrant communities.”
On Friday, January 30, 2026, protesters took to the streets of Providence, marching against ICE. Among the hundreds of demonstrators were numerous school children carrying signs denouncing ICE, as they moved through the city. (Photo credit: Richard Beetham for Fox News Digital)
“If we don’t stand now, when will we?” was a question that echoed among the demonstrators, highlighting the urgency of their call to action.
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.Â
“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.Â