By Eliyahu Gasson & Kaitlyn Hughes | editor-in-chief & news editor

A group of University of Pittsburgh students gathered at Schenley Plaza with signs in hand on Friday to show solidarity with communities being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

The protest was part of a series of walk outs across the city organized by Sunrise Movement Pittsburgh, College Democrats at Pitt, CMU Democrats and Progressive Students for Change at Pitt. 

Students at Carnegie Mellon University, Chatham University, Pittsburgh CAPA 6-12 and City Charter High School also participated in the walk out.

Ilyas Khan, a member of Sunrise Movement, said that students at City Charter were the first ones to be doing a walk out. When university students got word of the event, they decided to join in.

“The sacrifice of class time or study time is not as great as the many reparations of the university,” he said. 

Brendan Wissinger, a member of Sunrise Movement, said he hoped the event would convince Pitt to prevent ICE activity on campus and to have them implement a system to alert students of the presence of ICE officers on campus. 

He also hopes to show local officials such as Mayor Corey O’Connor and Pittsburgh City Council to stick to their word of not cooperating with ICE.

“I think we have to pressure our politicians to ensure they keep to their word,” Wissinger said.

Akiliann Bray, who is also a member of Sunrise Movement, was a marshall of the event to ensure everyone was staying safe.

The group handed out hand warmers, hot chocolate, water and whistle kits. 

Bray led the protesters in chants with a microphone. 

She said it is important for college-aged people to get out in the streets and make their voices heard. 

“For me right is right, and wrong is wrong. We’re young people so we are going to be alive for a long time,” she said.

She said that although Pittsburgh has not seen as much ICE activity as Minneapolis has, it’s important for people to protest.

“We need to be proactive,” Bray said. “What you allow to happen in your community will eventually happen to you. It’s going to come to your door, even if you think you’re safe.”

Oakmont resident Jose Flores, 47, was detained by ICE last week. According to reporting done by TribLive, agents detained Flores without a warrant. 

“This stuff has been happening. So I think it’s good that we stay vigilant,” Wissinger said.

About 35 students participated in the walk out. 

Samuel Lard, a freshman psychology major at Pitt, said he is “sick” of seeing what is happening throughout the country.

“I can’t sleep… knowing I’m not doing something,” Lard said.

Gaven Neill, a senior environmental studies major at Pitt, agreed. 

“Saying something is better than silence because silence is agreement,” Neill said. 

Khan said the most important thing for students right now is to have the confidence to speak up.

“Where there is one, there is many,” he said.

The group dispersed peacefully at around 1 p.m., 30 minutes after it began.

Eliyahu Gasson can be reached at gassone@duq.edu

Kaitlyn Hughes can be reached at hughesk10@duq.edu