The Providence Student Union promoted a Friday 1:30 PM 'student-led' anti-ICE walkout across Providence public schools, urging students to 'dress warm' and join a peaceful protest in solidarity with Minneapolis. Though labeled 'student-led,' the union is an unaffiliated nonprofit run by adults; its 2025 tax filings show more than $76,000 paid to key officers and nearly $300,000 in other wages. Rhode Island activist Nicole Solas criticized the group for involving students in politically charged actions that appear to financially benefit adults. The Providence Public School District said the event was not school-sponsored and that staff participation was not district-sanctioned.
Rhode Island Activist Says Adult-Run Nonprofit Profited From 'Student-Led' Anti-ICE Walkout
Protesters march against ICE in Providence on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Hundreds of protesters, many of them school children (not shown), holding anti-ICE signs march through the city.(Fox News)
The Providence Student Union promoted a citywide anti-ICE walkout across Providence public schools, describing the event as 'student-led' in social media posts that urged students to leave school on Friday at 1:30 PM to protest federal immigration enforcement and show solidarity with Minneapolis activists.
Protesters march against ICE in Providence on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Hundreds of protesters, many of them school children (not shown), holding anti-ICE signs march through the city.
Social Media Push and Event Details
A Facebook announcement from the Providence Student Union opened with 'STUDENTS OF PPSD: WALK OUT FOR JUSTICE' and encouraged students to participate. Subsequent posts described the action as a peaceful demonstration to demand accountability and support immigrant communities, adding messaging such as 'Dress warm, show up, and share' to boost turnout.
Protesters march against ICE in Providence on Friday, Jan. 30, 2026. Hundreds of protesters, many of them school children (not shown), holding anti-ICE signs march through the city.
Adult Leadership, Funding, and Participation
Although the union framed the walkout as student-led, it is an unaffiliated, donor-funded nonprofit with an adult leadership team. According to its 2025 tax filings, the organization reported paying more than $76,000 to officers, directors, trustees and key employees, and nearly $300,000 in other salaries and wages. Photographs taken during the event showed a number of adults participating alongside students in Providence's state capital.
Hundreds of protesters, many of them school children (not shown), holding anti-ICE signs march through the city.
Nicole Solas, a Rhode Island activist: 'Adults should not be paid to encourage or organize students to leave school for political activism. Do the students know adults make money off the students' activism? Students should not be exploited as cash cows for the political scheming of adults.'
School District Response
The Providence Public School District reiterated it has no official ties to the Providence Student Union and confirmed the walkout was not district-sponsored or chaperoned. A district spokesperson said staff members were not known to be participating and that any employee who joined would have needed to take personal or vacation time to do so.
Hundreds of protesters, many of them school children (not shown), holding anti-ICE signs march through the city.
Context: Activists Memorialized
The Providence Student Union expressed solidarity with Minneapolis activists and honored Renee Good and Alex Pretti, two anti-ICE figures who were killed during separate confrontations with federal law enforcement. Reports indicate Renee Good was shot after a confrontation while shadowing federal officers; officials say Alex Pretti had a prior history of interfering with enforcement actions and was armed when he was shot.
Response From The Organization
The Providence Student Union did not respond to requests for comment about its organization, finances, or how it characterized the walkout.
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