In the last week of January, neon Instagram posts began circulating the social media feeds of Bishop O’Dowd students. With a simple “Like,” “Share,” and “Repost,” these colorful pixels gained popularity amongst teenagers itching to make a difference, but unsure how. Soon, student-led Instagram accounts such as @hrs_against_ice and @donsagainstice joined the mix, and the message was out.

A few days later, the Bishop O’Dowd administration issued an official message to parents. On Thursday afternoon, an email titled “Solidarity with National Strike” landed in parents’ inboxes.

As the only Catholic high school with “social justice” in its charism, the O’Dowd administration voiced the importance of standing in solidarity with those who experience marginalization. Administrators offered to excuse students from any missed classes, if they wrote a reflection on their experience.

Meanwhile, other Bay Area high schools’ offered more explicit support to their students. In San Francisco, faculty and students from Jesuit high schools Sacred Heart and St. Ignatius partnered to lead school-wide walkouts. According to Diversity, Equity, and Inclusivity director Mr. Diaz, as an Oakland diocesan school, Bishop O’Dowd must align with the positions of the Oakland Diocese, which can serve as a constraint in its potential for action.

Mr. Diaz acknowledged that there was a fine line to walk, but affirmed that O’Dowd is not turning a blind eye to this. Ultimately, his goal was to show students that “It’s okay to break the routine and stand up for the things that you really believe in.”

On Friday morning, the quad was notably emptier as O’Dowd students scattered throughout the Bay Area to voice their support.

Jude Venderbles ‘26 was among the students who attended a San Francisco protest. Sitting on BART, he said “Today, I’m going to Dolores Park. I feel like it’s really important that everyone comes out, no matter who you are, where you are, and support. I know my impacts are very small. I’m just one person, but I think what really matters is that every single person counts towards a big pool of people. We bring a movement.”

Meanwhile, Meera Billon ‘26 opted to stay local at show her support at the Fruitvale Protest. When asked about the rationale behind her decision to miss school, she said “I think that this is a big issue that’s really affecting our community. A lot of the institutions that we’re part of are struggling to speak up, which is why it’s important that we get together as a community.” Ultimately, Billon’s goal was to “send a message to legislators to do more for their community and prevent ICE from taking innocent people.”

For a school that names social justice as part of its charism, the challenge may not be whether students should care, but how an institution rooted in Catholic tradition chooses to support them. As O’Dowd navigates its place between the Diocese and its students, the question may not disappear after the January thirtieth protests.