Last Tuesday, January 20, many high schools around Albuquerque walked out of their classes in protest of recent events around the country involving federal immigration enforcement. This Friday, January 31, many are planning to do it again.
Maxwell Meiklejohn, a 16-year-old junior at Albuquerque High School, helped organize the first walkout, and he has been working again with his peers to organize the walkout scheduled for Friday. However, the protest planned for Friday is intended to be a bit more of a feat, with citizens meeting in the Civic Plaza downtown.
The first walkout was initially a nationwide protest, under the title “Free America Walkout,” and word spread through social media. In an interview, Maxwell explained that he was encouraged to get involved by his mother Lauren Meiklejohn, a local community organizer who helped put together the Women’s March in the Civic Plaza.
In preparation for the “Free America Walkout”, Maxwell got together with one of his classmates, who created an Instagram post on her personal account to reach out to their other classmates and get them involved. “It just instantly got feedback,” he said, “And we were super hyped about it.”
The students made posters and banners for the walkout, and Maxwell emphasized two very large banners that they placed at the front of the school. He wanted to give students something to see: “One of the questions I get asked the most is, ‘Is this really happening?’” As an organizer and a leader, he wanted to make sure his classmates knew where to go. “I think it’s important when you’re organizing something like this to make sure that there’s physical proof for people to see as well, rather than just online.”
That Tuesday, at 2 p.m., so many students gathered by the signs to walk out of the school that Maxwell and his fellow organizers were surprised by the turnout. “The most amazing thing to me, just having that kind of experience,” he said, “was realizing how many people just need a little push or a little example to just get out there and be a part of it.”
Since that successful turnout, Maxwell and other students have been working hard to plan their walkout for Friday. This protest has also been spread as a nationwide plan, circling on social media under a post calling for a “nationwide shutdown,” and urging those who want to participate not only meet up in downtown Albuquerque, but also to refrain from working and shopping that day. Other students working with Maxwell to organize their classmates helped create an Instagram account with the handle “ahswalk.2026” to spread the word at Albuquerque High.
When asked about how high school students were planning on participating in this event, Maxwell explained that for Albuquerque High students specifically, they are planning on walking the entire way. “Our plan is to meet at 12, and then we’re going to march from the school to Civic Plaza, which is about half an hour,” Maxwell said. “We think it will be good to just be united, and represent Albuquerque High.”
He also said that they’ve been focusing heavily on coordinating safety, and have consulted outside adults for advice on de-escalation and crowd control. However, the march to the plaza itself will be just students.
“We expect hopefully as many, or some, high schools participating in this as were participating in the walkout,” Maxwell said in the interview. He also explained that Albuquerque High students have gotten in touch with students and organizers from other high schools in the city, and are planning to meet to coordinate further potential protests. “The walkout wasn’t a standalone thing, I think we’re going to try to keep the ball rolling on this, and just keep ramping up involvement.”
For Friday’s walkout and protest, the social media post includes an email address for students with questions or concerns to contact. The walkout is planned for 12:30 p.m., and students and other participants are planning on meeting in the Civic Plaza at 2 p.m.