WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Local students walk out during ‘national shutdown’

(WSB photos unless otherwise credited)

Thanks to everyone who tipped us (mostly via our text hotline, 206-293-6302) about student walkouts as part of today’s “national shutdown” to protest deadly violence during federal immigration enforcement. We mentioned the walkout plans in our ongoing list of shutdown participation and we sent a photographer out to see if they happened.

They did.

Our first three photos are from Nino Cantu Southwest Athletic Complex, where students from Denny International Middle School and Chief Sealth International High School (across the street) gathered. On Delridge, smaller groups walked out of Louisa Boren STEM K-8 and gathered along the street:

And students from Madison Middle School headed out to California Avenue SW a few blocks east:

Some walked down Admiral to Alki, as shown in this photo sent by a reader:

According to messages sent by school administrators to families, as well as what our photographer saw, school staffers monitored the walkouts but made it clear participation was a “family choice,” saying classes would continue as usual. Meantime, we’re continuing to update our list of shutdown-related closures, donations, and related notes here.

P.S. Thanks to the students who have sent additional photos – we’ll add a few of those later.

ADDED 7:21 PM: Among what we received from students, an organizer of the Denny walkout sent this video explaining the intent:

29 Replies to "WEST SEATTLE SCHOOLS: Local students walk out during 'national shutdown'"

  • SPS Parent January 30, 2026 (2:53 pm)

    So proud of these kids! Hopefully their generation can right the wrongs.

  • Wow January 30, 2026 (2:59 pm)

    Really SPS?!? Allowing a 14 year old to hold up a sign saying “Seattle does not @!#% with ice”. 

    • C January 30, 2026 (7:51 pm)

      There were child victims of the sitting President, so maybe… Oh never mind. Yeah sure, the F word, used commonly in the English vernacular, and only insinuated is the problem. Not the fact their country is being terrorized by law breaking secret police many of whom were actually in jail before said President pardoned them. I think maybe you have your magnifying glass on the wrong details. 

    • Gay January 30, 2026 (7:51 pm)

      Wow.

    • Westwood January 30, 2026 (8:19 pm)

      It’s called the First Amendment. Deal with it. 

    • Ha January 30, 2026 (8:41 pm)

      WOW you really don’t understand what happened here. SPS didn’t “allow” these students to do this, they wrote signs and walked out over their own volition.

    • WTF January 31, 2026 (7:11 am)

      Oh for Fu$k sakes …. Really , this is what you focus on ?!  

    • KE January 31, 2026 (10:33 am)

      Also- have you not heard our president and vice president?  They dropped F-bombs on national TV…. The students are going to be okay. And let’s really not forget about 1st amendment rights are for ALL. 

      • Canton February 1, 2026 (8:31 am)

        Fuck yeah!… First amendment!…

    • Sage January 31, 2026 (12:03 pm)

      You’re clutching your pearls over the wrong thing. 

    • Qeriya January 31, 2026 (2:19 pm)

      That’s my sign Seattle does not fuck with ice

    • jayla January 31, 2026 (3:33 pm)

      im the 12 year old who made that sign and so what if it said “fuck”?? do you not know what ice is doing?? i made that sign to protest against the horrible disgusting actions ice has put people through and you’re focused on a “bad” word?? so many people have died and went through excruciating pain due to ice, and you’re worried about what you thought was a 14 year old writing “seattle does not fuck with ice” on a sign.

      • JP February 1, 2026 (12:07 am)

        You’re a great person, jayla, for caring as much as you do. All y’all West Seattle young people are on the right side of history. Fuck ICE! 

    • sea February 6, 2026 (2:15 pm)

      innocent people are getting murdered. children are getting detained. a swear word should be the least of your worries.

  • Mom January 30, 2026 (3:06 pm)

    Westside School students also walked out. 

  • Hopeful January 30, 2026 (3:16 pm)

    The kids are alright.

  • Rose Todd January 30, 2026 (3:34 pm)

    Madison Middle school end of march the group went don by over 2/3rds

  • Rose Todd January 30, 2026 (3:35 pm)

    Madison Middle school end of march the group went don by over 2/3rds

    • M walsh January 31, 2026 (3:13 pm)

      I was one of the many young kids during the March and let me just say I have never seen so much support in a protest before that I have been in thank you all for supporting us!!! GO BULLDOGS!!!

  • mem January 30, 2026 (4:06 pm)

    Good job students!!!

    • Z January 31, 2026 (8:54 am)

      Thank you! It was exhausting but extremely powerful!(:

  • Syser January 30, 2026 (4:49 pm)

    They walked for 3 hours exercising their 1A rights. So proud of these young Seattleites! 

  • Sarah January 30, 2026 (4:53 pm)

    I recognize my kid and several others in these pics. Go, West Seattle!

  • ltmmgm January 30, 2026 (5:57 pm)

    I understand the sentiments but that language on that one sign is a little inappropriate  don’t you think, especially for school age kids and the WSB.

  • Sky January 30, 2026 (7:28 pm)

    Here are some pictures from the Madison walk-out

    • Alexandria January 30, 2026 (10:01 pm)

      Ahh I see my daughter in this picture! I’m so proud of her.

  • Grilled Cheese January 30, 2026 (7:34 pm)

    Awesome. Proud of my son protesting today. 

  • Alejandro b January 30, 2026 (8:17 pm)

    Go Madison bulldogs who did this even with all of us over this 3 hour march.

  • Encouraged January 31, 2026 (8:05 am)

    So proud of these young people standing up for their values and basic human rights. This gives me hope in an otherwise bleak time. 

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