[LA MESA, Calif. — Friday Jan. 23, 1:30 pm]
Roughly 100 students walked out of Grossmont High School on Thursday to protest ICE and recent immigration raids, forming a peaceful march through nearby streets and shopping areas.
The students left campus and proceeded along Amaya Drive and Fletcher Parkway toward Grossmont Hospital and Grossmont Center. Participants chanted while remaining on sidewalks and appeared to manage busy intersections without incident. Drivers along the route responded with honks and waves.
Students said their action was motivated by recent national attention on immigration enforcement, including reports involving high school students in Minnesota. The walkout reflected growing concern among students locally about immigration policy and enforcement.
During the march, a military UH-72 Lakota helicopter circled overhead for the duration of the event. The aircraft is not commonly seen in the area. Observers noted the helicopter appeared to depart from Montgomery Field shortly before the march began and return immediately afterward.
La Mesa Police Department dispatch indicated they were not aware of the helicopter’s purpose. A request for comment from the department’s public information officer was pending as of publication.
