NORMAN, OKLA (KOKH) — Student protests and counterprotests over U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement are continuing across Oklahoma.
On Friday, a small group of 15 students at Norman High School held a “Pro America” rally during lunch, showing support for America and President Trump.
One student at the rally said, “We’re out here to show our support for this country and show that we appreciate what all of the fallen army soldiers have done for us.”
Although this follows a Tuesday walkout that drew more than 100 students protesting ICE, that same student said it was not connected to Tuesday’s “ICE-Out” walkout.
“So this has honestly nothing to do with the protest on Tuesday. That was an anti-ICE protest. We’re just here to show our support for this country and show that we appreciate what our fallen soldiers have done for us,” the student said.
Some students who participated in Tuesday’s walkout in protest of ICE also gathered on the other side of the street again on Friday, with flags and signs.
Theodore Madsen, a senior at Norman High School, said, “I’m here because I’m anti-ICE. I’m for that because a lot of the people that have been arrested by ICE are U.S. citizens, and a lot of them are undocumented because of a system, because of a corrupt system that treats them, that would rather hurt them than help them. And so I’m here to support them because they are the victims of a corrupt system.”
Madsen also said he just wants to support Americans.
“I want to support all Americans, every one of them, including the ones that we don’t see eye to eye with. Even if I don’t see eye to eye with the people over there, they’re Americans. I see eye to eye with people here, they’re also Americans. I don’t have anything negative to say about the people on the other side.” he said.
During the “ICE-Out” protest on Tuesday last week, it stayed peaceful at first but escalated, with water bottles being thrown, signs stolen, and one student shoving another.
In light of those events, Norman Public Schools put up barriers earlier in the day so students could safely exercise their First Amendment rights away from the road.
Several Norman police officers were at the rally, saying they were there to keep everyone safe.
A student participating in the “Pro America” rally said, “We’re just trying to keep it peaceful. We have no hate in our hearts for anyone, and we just want veterans to know that we support them.”
An email was sent to parents on Wednesday from Norman Public Schools regarding Tuesday’s walkout.
Behavior that would result in disciplinary action on campus also applies to behavior off campus during lunch or the school day.
