More than 200 students from universities across Washington, D.C. gathered in front of the U.S. Department of Education (DOE) headquarters to protest for public education, academic freedom and the rights of immigrant students.
The protest called “Hands Off Our Schools,” referencing recent rollback efforts, began at 4 p.m. on April 4 and lasted for nearly three hours.
Students held handmade signs and chanted slogans such as, “Give us back our DOE!” and “You can’t take free speech from me!” as speakers took turns addressing the crowd from a small podium near the building’s entrance.
Students came from Georgetown University, Howard University, American University, George Washington University, George Mason University and Temple University.
The event remained peaceful yet energetic, with bullhorns and colorful signs reading: “Save Our Schools!” and “Stop Deporting Students!” with call-response chants filling the air.
While a few security personnels from the DOE were visible near the entrance, there was no large police or security presence at the rally.
The crowd, in a mixture of Georgetown paraphernalia and everyday clothing, built up as the rally progressed, drawing attention from passersby and media alike.
With the podium set, microphones ready, and speakers lined up, the scene was set for an afternoon of advocacy.
For many attendees, the protest was about the future of education and students who were concerned about the decisions that have been made by President Donald Trump and his administration.
Darius Wagner, a sophomore and newly appointed vice president of Georgetown University’s Student Government, spoke passionately about the grassroots nature of this event.
“We just got together as a group of six and thought, ‘How can we make our voices heard?’ Wagner said, explaining how students from multiple universities across the region united for the cause.
Wagner emphasized that the protest wasn’t born from an official organization but from students’ shared determination to make their voices heard on an urgent issue.
“The president is snatching up people off of our campuses simply for using their free speech,” he added, pointing to the broader context of the protest—growing concerns about immigration policies and their impact on students.
He noticed a recent incident where a Georgetown post-doctoral fellow, detained by ICE, became a stark reminder of the real-world consequences of these policies.
“We were already on the list, simply for our academic freedom, for our diversity,” Wagner said.
At the heart of Wagner’s message was the need for unity and collective action.
He recognized that while the protest in D.C., was a powerful statement, it was just one part of a larger, nationwide movement.
The rally also sparked powerful reflections from students like Jayla Washington, a junior health science major at Howard University, who came to the protest with her organization, Sisters in Serenity.
“As soon as you got there, you could feel the vibes, the excitement, and the passion from everyone,” Washington recalled, describing the visible energy surrounding the event.
For Washington, the motivation to participate was clear: “I’ve seen so many things in the media recently about changes in education policies, and I’m just tired of decisions being made without us having a say in it,” she said.
The protest, for Washington, was a chance to stand up for her peers and the integrity of education itself.
She mentioned her opposition to policies that censor certain curricula, specifically the attempts to limit the teaching of Black and brown history.
“It’s important for us to have a full understanding of our history in the classroom,” she said. “We can’t just be taught censored versions of history, we need actual education, the truth.”
She added that she was particularly vocal against the defunding of public schools, pointing to her own experience in under-resourced classrooms that lacked updated textbooks, technology and sufficient staff.
Washington emphasized that continued budget cuts disproportionately affect students in low-income and marginalized communities, widening the gap in educational access and quality.
While the protest saw a large turnout from universities like Georgetown and George Washington, Washington noted the lower turnout from Howard students and others.
“I know Howard students were there, but it would have been amazing to see more. I hope this protest sparks more rallies and discussions, especially on our campuses. We need to be more engaged and advocate for our education.”
Copy edited by Aniyah Genama
