In our current society, protests are a direct and valuable expression of our democratic freedoms and exercise of our rights. The right to assemble and voice opinions without fear of violence or government push back is one of the most valuable freedoms this country provides. Recent protests across the nation — including those here in our district — remind us why this right matters. 

The ongoing concerns surrounding the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has pushed Americans to gather, march, and speak out. These moments are reflections of how our society actively engages with its own values.

At Skyline College, students recently exercised that right in response to concerns over ICE. Regardless of the students’ individual political beliefs, what stood out was participation. Students organized peacefully and made their voices heard without resorting to violence or destruction. That alone makes the protest meaningful.

 Peaceful protest matters because it shows strong beliefs without causing harm. It opens the door for conversation. The recent demonstrations did just that. They united students around shared concerns and proved that civic engagement is active and alive on our campus.

Our district allowed students the right to assemble. There was no unnecessary pushback, no silencing of voices. When institutions respect peaceful protest, they reinforce the very democratic principles they are meant to uphold.

While you could argue that protests disrupt class time, that concern actually defines why the protests are meaningful: because change cannot come without some level of sacrifice. Missing a lecture or pausing the day’s schedule is a small price to pay for participating in democracy. 

Protest is not just about endorsing one side or condemning another. It is about exercising a right. It is about demonstrating that citizens — and in this case, students — care enough to stand together publicly for what they believe in.

Skyline College students showed that protest can be peaceful, organized, and impactful. They showed that civic engagement does not require violence to be effective. And most importantly, they reminded us that democracy is not passive, it requires participation.

As long as protests remain peaceful, they remain positive.

The Skyline View editorial has no byline because it is the voice of TSV’s Editorial Staff.