'You can use your voice': Gallatin High students walk out over ICE

Red caps and raised fists met on the lawn of Gallatin High School on Friday, as students walked out of class to protest nationwide ICE raids while others turned out in support of the Trump administration's immigration crackdown.

As the third period bell rang, a group of around 50 students met outside the front door holding signs with messages such as, “Education not deportation,” and “I like my ICE crushed.” For Brodey Beehler, a senior, the issue is personal.

“My grandma is from Tijuana, Mexico,” Beehler said. “I can’t support this illegal organization deporting people for no reason with no justification.”

Beehler also recalled a year spent studying abroad in Spain, during which time Trump won the 2024 election.

“I got made fun of as an American. Like, ‘Didn’t you guys learn your lesson the first time?',” Beehler said. “We’ve become a laughingstock.”

The walk out was organized by Charlotte Haslam as part of her senior project and a way to rally like-minded students in what she described as a divided student body.

“I know a lot of people in our school really support ICE,” Haslam said. “I’m just trying to make any difference I can and show my community that you can use your voice to make a difference. Even if its insignificant, you still can.”

A group of around 15 boys followed, signs in hand, but their message had nothing to do with immigration. They called to "Free Paul George" — a nod to the NBA star's recent 25-game drug suspension — before peeling off from the group and reaching Diamond Park.

Minutes later, two vehicles of teens who told police they were “just spectators” drove slowly past the demonstration, passengers recording the marchers on their phones. One vehicle flew a large Trump flag.

Police later confirmed that one vehicle was pulled over in connection to the march but declined to provide details.

For Arcadian Ollom-Tighe, a student among the anti-ICE march, the opposition was expected.

“This is the more conservative school,” Ollom-Tighe said. “It’s not a surprise.”

As the march reached the park, Haslam addressed the group, calling for tax dollars to be spent on healthcare, education, and the working class instead of ICE. Before the group headed back, she encouraged those in attendance to remain active in the movement.

“Without people like you, our country would be a freedomless, dystopian land,” Haslam said to the crowd.

Back at the school, a circle of freshman girls lingered on the lawn to discuss the tension with their classmates. Most described the pushback as a mix of humor and spite that largely missed the point.

The girls agreed that while their own decision to walk out was driven by genuine outrage over current events, the counter-protesters appeared to have gathered simply to mock them.

“They think it’s funny to video us,” Grey Collins said. “But I don’t care because I’m standing up for something I care about.”

“It’s not weird to care about other people,” Irelyn Allen added.

Superintendent Casey Bertram said students are free to practice their First Amendment rights, and high school administrators would be nearby to monitor safety for all involved.

“The district and school make no value judgments on the causes that students choose to come together and support,” Bertram said.

However, he added, per school policy all students who miss class will incur an unexcused absence unless their parent calls the school to excuse them. For the lead organizer, the issue of roll call was secondary to the success of the walk out.

“I’ll ask my mom tonight,” Haslam said.