Hundreds of high school students took to the streets of Joliet to protest the actions of the Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in what appeared to be part of a nationwide student walkout on Friday.

Local school districts addressed the possibility of student walkouts Friday as part of a national movement organized on social media.

Joliet Township High School District 204 students participated in the protest Friday morning at the Joliet Central campus and marched around downtown, including outside the Will County Courthouse.

Later in the day, hundreds of Joliet West students walked out in a similar protest.

“A walkout occurred at Central today,” District 204 Director of Community & Alumni Relations Kristine Schlismann said at around 10:30 a.m. “Students are beginning to return to the classroom in a safe and productive manner.”

Schlismann stated that about 750 Joliet Central students took part in the protest, starting at 9:15 a.m. and confirmed between 800 and 1,000 students at Joliet West walked out at 1:15 p.m.

Students congregated at the Will County Courthouse in the morning and marched around downtown at least twice, at times blocking traffic as large numbers of demonstrators crossed streets and not necessarily at crosswalks.

During the last march through downtown on Friday, dozens of students ran across Joliet Street to go into the Harrah’s Casino parking deck and onto the upper tiers to wave signs.

Those students, however, left the deck when a group of what appeared to be fellow protestors arrived on the scene and began shouting at them to get out and stay off private property.

Students interviewed at the demonstration said they intended to stage a peaceful protest to voice objections to ICE conduct in Joliet and elsewhere. They also said they wanted to speak for friends and family who have become afraid to leave their homes.

“We’re not trying to cause a disruption,” said Ashley Davis, a junior at Joliet Central.

But Davis said she hoped the demonstration would bring “more eyes and ears” to the cause of immigrants.

“We are speaking for the people who cannot speak – for our parents, friends and family,” said Johan Rodriguez, also a junior at Joliet Central. “They’re afraid.”

Rodriguez said he knows people who won’t leave their homes and cross a street because they believe they could be swept up in the nation’s immigration crackdown.

Tony Arellano, a senior at Joliet Central, said ICE arrests have occurred in Joliet.

[ PHOTOS: Joliet students protest against ICE ]

Asked what he hoped to achieve by joining the demonstration, Arellano said, “Hopefully prevent unfair arresting in our town, the state, anywhere.”

ICE arrests in Joliet have occurred at the courthouse and outside Joliet City Hall, which is across Jefferson Street from the Harrah’s parking deck. ICE has never responded to requests from The Herald-News for information on who was arrested in Joliet and why.

District 204 encouraged students choosing to participate to protest safely, and stated that while students would not receive additional disciplinary consequences for protesting, they could be “subject to consequences equal to the rules that are violated while protesting,” such as leaving campus.

Many of the student marchers were waving flags and homemade signs, and at least a dozen students from Joliet Central had made their way to Joliet West to “meet up with friends” and continue marching.

Students outside Joliet West were greeted by Joliet Township Supervisor Caesar Guerrero and Highway Commissioner Vincent Alessio, who were handing out “Know your rights” information cards and complimentary hot chocolate to students.

The hot chocolate had been provided by the office of state Rep. Larry Walsh, D-Elwood, Alessio said.

“The kids are alright,” Guerrero said. “We wanted to make sure the students are safe as they engage in this demonstration. It gives me hope that this new generation of community leaders cares about what’s going on and want to do something about it.”

Joliet West students chanting “ICE out” marched down Larkin Avenue and to Jefferson Street, where some appeared to have arranged rides. Many others continued to march down Jefferson, coming to a stop and turning around at Barney Drive.

Joliet police were present along the west side route and at Joliet West campus, where security also was stationed on the roof.

Plans for the protest had been in the works for about a week, since last Friday, students said.

Cities and states across the country reported student walkouts planned for Friday. The movement was organized on social media platforms.

“This feels important because we want to bring a change from the abuse that’s going on,” said student Evelyn Alzaro, who was marching, waving a Mexican flag.

“This has never ever happened before at the school,” said Lucas Terrazas, a band student who brought his trumpet out to the protest. “I don’t think any of the teachers have said they’ve seen anything like it. People are just very emotional right now about what’s going on.”

Some members of the community walked alongside the students while others blew car horns and cheered for them along their route.

Diana Coffey, a mom of recent Joliet West graduates, stood at the corner outside the school with a sign reading “This mom is proud of you.”

“I’m very proud of them for deciding to stand up right now for what they believe in,” Coffey said. “There’s not a lot they can do, but this is something.”

In anticipation of the walkout, School District 204 issued a statement to families on Wednesday night.

“We are aware of numerous school walkouts that are happening or are being planned in the upcoming weeks or months in various communities and that JTHS students are planning a walkout on Friday, Feb. 6, which may include plans to leave campus,” the statement read. “JTHS does not endorse or sanction a walkout. If a student feels compelled to protest about any topic that is important to them, we encourage students to select an event and time that does not interrupt their learning or potentially cause a disruption at school.”

Plainfield Community School District 202 Superintendent Dr. Glenn Wood issued a statement Thursday evening to parents and students acknowledging the district was aware that some students may choose to participate “in a peaceful protest by walking out of our high schools on Friday, Feb. 6,” he said.

“We respect our students’ interest in current events and appreciate their willingness to engage thoughtfully with the world around them,” Wood said. “At the same time, the District does not support student walkouts during the instructional day. Our primary responsibility is to maintain a safe, predictable and uninterrupted learning environment for all students.”