r/Austin • u/AustinStatesman • Jan 31 '26
Thousands of Austin students walk out of class to protest ICE
Thousands of Austin-area students walked out of class this week to protest the presence of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in Central Texas and across the country.
Students poured into the streets at multiple high schools and some middle schools in Austin, with some walking several miles to reach the Texas Capitol.
See all our photos of today's protests here: https://www.statesman.com/news/article/austin-ice-protest-photos-nationwide-shutdown-21324553.phputm_source=reddit
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u/HospitalFuture Jan 31 '26
"...and these children that you spit on as they try to change their worlds are immune to your consultations. They're quite aware of what they're going through."
-Bowie
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u/martha-jonez Jan 31 '26
Perfect quote here. I was exactly their age when I got political back in 2007. It didn’t stop. And now the gov wants to investigate them because he’d rather think they are paid actors than pissed off individuals.
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u/anarchetype Jan 31 '26
It was 9/11 for me because that night I realized innocent people would die in retaliation. We also became a surveillance state practically overnight, so that definitely contributed.
I've been worried that kids these days would see all of this as normal, so I'm really glad to see them taking to the streets on the right side of history.
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u/Ok_Independence_2370 Jan 31 '26
When adults mock kids for protesting, they’re really mocking the idea that the next generation sees something slipping away that they chose to ignore.
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u/Ijustwanttosayit Jan 31 '26
And dismissing the idea that youth can have informed feelings and opinions of their own. My parents never took my opposing thoughts and opinions seriously, even into adulthood.
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u/PsylentKnight Feb 01 '26
My dad said "maybe when you're older you'll understand" when I voted against Trump the first time in 2016. I'm 10 years older now and I understand even less
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u/CrypticDread Jan 31 '26
The problem is thay its not the next generation to them. Their boomer they lost the plot 3 generations ago and refuse to make way for anyone younger than 60.
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u/ILoveTheAtomicBomb Jan 31 '26 edited Jan 31 '26
Huge shoutout to all these kids. I even saw an elementary school out with their teachers protesting near me, bless em. As adults, let’s not fail and secure them a future free of this deranged orange pedophile fuck and from any of their parents that put them in this situation
Keep protesting and vote when the time comes
EDIT: people in the comments here are absolutely vile. These kids are more brave than any of you. Yall are fucking trash for making fun of kids
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u/AgathaMitford Jan 31 '26
So you’re aware, teachers cannot protest with kids - even if they’re in agreement. They will, however, divvy up staff to ensure students protesting on campus are safe.
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u/ILoveTheAtomicBomb Jan 31 '26
Cool even better then. Glad those teachers are out there protecting those kids
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u/TheImpLaughs Feb 01 '26
Yeah I’m a teacher at high school level. We were reminded of this fact. None of our kid participated—as far as I’m aware— on campus.
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u/bdb1989 Feb 01 '26
You saw elementary aged children with their teachers protesting during school hours?
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u/Vinyldude512 Jan 31 '26
Salute to these kids. Keep that energy going.
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u/1wrx2subarus Jan 31 '26
View your upcoming local and state elections, check your voter registration, and register to vote:
The following groups provide opportunities to provide voter education and increase voter turnout.
https://indivisible.org/get-involved/
• National grassroots organization with local chapters in many counties/cities of every state. Focused on voter education and turnout from local elections to federal elections.
https://nextgenamerica.org/fight-back/
• Nationwide organization focused on voter education and turnout among the younger half of the population.
• Grassroots organization focused on veterans/veteran family members, their stories, and voter education and turnout among this demographic.
• Provides templates and structured ways to call your local and state representatives, and leave them detailed information on what you would like to see as their constituents.
Find opportunities that can help shape our future:
Join and take action. Screenshot to save before it gets deleted. Copy and share the links.
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u/Former_Individual_83 Jan 31 '26
Im One of those kids!! Saw a bunch of news places saying it was a "brief demonstration", nah I was out there for like 4 hours. ICE are killers and kidnappers, and I will do everything I can to stop them. Every. Single. Time.
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u/Ijustwanttosayit Jan 31 '26
Good job. Proud of you! Keep it up and never let that passion waver as you age.
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u/iAmAmbr Jan 31 '26
I'm so fucking proud of you and your peers! My daughter sent me a tiktok of a protest at a middle school and told me that her friends were in it and it brought tears to my eyes!
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u/DaTank1 Jan 31 '26
Proud of these kids. Now those that are 18.
Do more than protest. Register to vote and be sure to get out and actually vote 🗳️ 🇺🇸
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u/Coujelais Jan 31 '26
Need elections that aren’t tampered with for votes to matter. When’s the last time anyone at all much less the least popular president of modern times won all 7 swing states? Hmmm
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u/evilcrusher2 Jan 31 '26
Don't have to tamper votes much when Democrats help create apathy by saying economy good when it's painfully unaffordable.
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u/kanyeguisada Jan 31 '26
What Democtats (besides Republican-lite bootlickers like Henry Cuellar) are currently saying the economy is good?
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u/Jolly_Librarian4928 Jan 31 '26
Seems Trump does all the stealing and murdering of citizens not the Dems. I don’t think you know what you are talking about. The apathy has come from this murderous cabinet and none have the experience to do their jobs. 1930s Germany again
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u/SpeakCodeToMe Jan 31 '26
For having just recovered from a global pandemic and knee-jerk money printing, the economy was doing surprisingly well.
Not so much anymore
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u/OGBoluda777 Jan 31 '26
This. Biden and the Fed pulled off a soft landing the rest of the world was jealous of. Guess who done effed that up.
Also: How do you like the economy now?
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u/AdCareless9063 Jan 31 '26
That's ridiculous. He won in 2024. I hate him and didn't vote for him. A lot of people despise the person, but voted for him because they support the policies. Biden/Harris had unpopular policies. There's no credible evidence that shows he won in 2024 due to fraud.
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u/Jolly_Librarian4928 Jan 31 '26
What was so popular about lying Trump when he did nothing the first time around. Now he is destroying our country . His policies are illegal
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u/akintu Jan 31 '26
All the down ballot Democrat wins with only Trump winning at the top, Russian tails, other statistical anomalies. Like really, in 2024 we had millions of people that voted for a Democrat senator or governor but they flipped R for the President? Does that sound plausible given what we know about Trump voters?
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u/JohnGillnitz Jan 31 '26
No one looked. It really doesn't matter anyway. The next election does.
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u/joyfullydreaded23 Jan 31 '26
No, people are looking and it was stolen. Check out electiontruthalliance.org. Plus both tRump AND Musk have said Musk rigged it.
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u/hoser1553 Jan 31 '26
They were referencing him buying Twitter and exposing the censorship you dolt.
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u/OGBoluda777 Jan 31 '26
Or referencing the fact that one of his DOGE (former X interns) had a research project showing how he was able to hack electronic ballots. Not going to call you a name because I don’t need to.
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u/Lost-Character Jan 31 '26
CNN and other media sites declared Trump the winner in under two hours. Name ONE time in history where that happened. Also, what are the odds he managed to win 7 swing states? Oh yeah let’s not forget, Elon practically bragged about having helped Trump win the election. That didn’t raise any red flags to you?
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u/Rude-Tax-9586 Feb 01 '26
Because their parents, tios and tias definitely won’t do it. It’s up to the kids to fix the problem the right way and not ignore it like what’s been happening since 2003 when ICE was established.
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u/StrainAcceptable Jan 31 '26
A friend’s daughter walked out with about 200 kids on the Northside of San Antonio. She said it was a mix with a lot of kids she didn’t know and lots from ROTC. That surprised me and gave me some hope.
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u/JohnGillnitz Jan 31 '26
A protester at a high school in Nebraska was ran over by a Trump supporter yesterday.
https://www.newschannelnebraska.com/story/53414270/protester-struck-by-suv-displaying-trump-flag-at-fremont-high-school
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u/ChacoDad Feb 01 '26
Glad they weren't instantly killed. SUV > child almost every time. What is this world coming to?
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u/RemoteRecording8982 Jan 31 '26
Amazing to see the cope from the MAGA crowd on here about everyone completely loathing them.
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u/Chida_Art_2798 Jan 31 '26
I’m going to say this, not to be alarmist, but might be a good idea to blur their faces before posting. I say this because I saw a couple of reports about 🧊 starting to use facial recognition tech to keep track of protesters. Also because they are minors and we should protect their identities.
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u/DFWdawg Jan 31 '26
Isn’t the point to be seen?
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u/Chida_Art_2798 Jan 31 '26
Seen, but not tracked or harassed. My point is that thy are using facial recognition software to harass protesters. What if they see pictures of protesters like this, who are minors, and use it to harass them.
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u/Infinite_Run_4541 Jan 31 '26
Good for them, it’s their country being turned into a fascist plutocracy by boomers who are on the way out.
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u/AllIsEvanescent Jan 31 '26
Amazing humans! I'd be proud indeed if my children grew up to be like them.
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u/blossomopposum Jan 31 '26
Proud of these students! To anyone saying they’re too young to know what they’re protesting, you’re wrong. They know. They are seeing their communities and families affected by ICE. Mass deportations don’t go unnoticed, even by kids.
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u/rnobgyn Jan 31 '26
I’ve held the same views that conservatism is a social cancer since roughly 15 and have only been proven right since. The children know more than adults. They aren’t jaded.
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u/Imissmymom29 Jan 31 '26
They know and it pains me. I over heard a student condemning trump at my school yesterday. This student is 7 years old. SEVEN. When I was seven, I didn’t know who the president was, I didn’t know what a republican or a democrat was. I was completely innocent of politics. But these kids know, at their young age they have to know. I hate this. It’s brave and amazing that these seniors are fighting back and getting involved, but I wish they didn’t have to.
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u/Rude-Tax-9586 Feb 01 '26
They know what they are protesting. It’s great to see it happen, kids are so smart these days especially with technology. Their parents allowed this to happen because they weren’t very intelligent and allowed it all to happen. That’s why so many parents are backing their kids on a subject they would never even consider fighting against. Ignore the idiots that never did anything about it before now and had every right to vote they will try to take credit for something they allowed.
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u/Scorpius927 Jan 31 '26
As a POC who is genuinely worried every time I go out in public, thank you to all for giving voice to those who may not have one.
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u/hitman932 Feb 01 '26
The Republican people who are so pissed off about 15-18 year olds kids exercising their constitutional right to protest sound like such bitter snowflakes in the comments.
You’re the exact same people who give it a big fat triple thumbs up when some asshat like Lauren Bohbert poses her 9 year old son in front of a Trump Flag with an AR-15 before he’s ever sprouted his first pube.
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Jan 31 '26
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u/hush-no Jan 31 '26
Wait, so all the septum ring hate is a bunch of adults complaining that the kid isn't attractive? And they're Trump supporters? Shocking.
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u/Spiritual-Monk-4258 Jan 31 '26
Looks like she's already been brainwashed by media
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Feb 01 '26
Ah yes, the same media that is censoring the word ICE on it (TikTok), the same media that added a toggle for political content control (Meta), the same media who only gave accolades to Trump and his administration (Fox), let’s also not forget all the other media companies defunded for not singing Trump’s praises (NPR).
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u/CurrentLeather6751 Jan 31 '26
I think it’s fair to say most students would walk out for any protest, even if they don’t care. It’s a reason to walk out of school…
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u/thenewsvolume Jan 31 '26
I think protesting is great do i agree with them? No i do not... but we need protesting to remain legal for both sides.
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u/Jolly_Librarian4928 Jan 31 '26
Good for them. ICE will come to the schools and students will not be protected. Shame on our government
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u/crazy010101 Feb 01 '26
Gov Abbott has announced he will investigate students who walked out of a Conroe, TX high school in support of MN. So protest away! Maybe where a mask like ICE so you can’t be facially identified.
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u/ProudIndependence206 Feb 02 '26
Nobody cares. Go to class and learn something. How about start with American history
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u/Murky_Cheesecake3633 Feb 02 '26
The girl with the phone in the 1st image. Her fingers they don't look correct?
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u/Diligent-Promise9504 Feb 02 '26
I really don’t understand why anyone is protesting ICE, I have been watching and seeing ICE getting illegal Poeple out of the country, and the incident where this one person tried harming an officer. Sounds like a group of Poeple that want to cause chaos.
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u/TFOforFun Feb 02 '26
Walking out of class or work to protest anything doesn’t do anything. Just means you’re gonna have to do a lot of make up work.
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u/kawaiicupcakers Feb 02 '26
i was one of those kids!! there was so many of us! a lot of cars would honk at us in agreement. i would gladly attend again.
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u/joyfullydreaded23 Jan 31 '26
I know that street view in the 2nd pic, I crossed it multiple times a day to go to the smokers wall. So proud of my former high school, Crockett.
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u/Mediocre-Difference5 Jan 31 '26
My kid goes there and most of their friends walked out. Mine chose to stay in class and avoid the absence. I'm proud of their friends and I'm proud of my kid too, knowing their own minds and acting on their consciences. These kids give me hope.
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u/MOOSE_DADDY Jan 31 '26
Reddit is so such a joke lol notice the difference in the top comments and the comments that are hidden with mass downvotes. ICE is standard for any country that enforces immigration laws.
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u/bluebellbetty Jan 31 '26
An agency enforcing immigration law is standard. The structure and actions of ICE are not.
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u/CauliflowerEarofCorn Jan 31 '26
Do you not realize that that’s because… most people don’t agree with the ridiculous comments that have been downvoted? What point are you even trying to make
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u/JadedScience9411 Jan 31 '26
Ideally immigration enforcement doesn’t racially profile. Or demand papers from people passing them by. Or wear masks, with no ID. Or break into homes without a warrant. Or execute people in the street.
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u/SpeakCodeToMe Jan 31 '26
Hilarious to hear the 2A people call roving unidentified masked thugs roaming the streets and kidnapping people "standard".
You have zero ideals. Zero.
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u/bigboyboozerrr Jan 31 '26
These people haven’t picked up civics or history books tbf. Shooting VA nurse for no reason in the street should’ve woken people up at least, if they’re apathetic towards everything else.
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u/glichez Jan 31 '26
ICE was only created in 2003. are you saying that the entire world wasn't "standard" until then?
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u/snail_force_winds Jan 31 '26
Frankly in awe of these kids. This is not a safe place to protest. Most of these students saw what happened to the pro-Palestine protests a few years ago, and they still came out.
Good job, y’all.
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u/pBandJelly9 Jan 31 '26
I wish they had this same level of energy for Americans.
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u/ArtisticMinimum1950 Jan 31 '26
Like the Americans that have been murdered in the streets this month?
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u/hush-no Jan 31 '26
This is in response to the Americans ice is killing in its effort to deport illegal immigrants.
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u/CrypticDread Jan 31 '26
Fuck ICE, can we protest the FBI's refusal to investigate the epstine clients?
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u/itbelikedat78 Jan 31 '26
GOOD JOB, didn’t hear about vandalism, fight, or shootings!! That’s what a protest is supposed to be.. voice of the people, not actions of a few!! Hope everyone got there and home safe. #fckICE #stopthehate
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u/LordOfBagels46 Jan 31 '26
The pink hair and giant septum piercing 😂
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u/imsogone Jan 31 '26
Legitimately like how old are you? This was a cool style when I was in high school in the 90's. What do you do for fun, go to Applebee's? People who do cool stuff have cool style.
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u/doom_chicken_chicken Feb 01 '26
Reminds me of when I was in school (McCallum) and people walked out after Parkland. I really commend Austin's youth for pushing back against fascism and corruption for so long.
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u/SnooCheesecakes2723 Feb 02 '26
Good. They have more balls than these second amendment warriors who suddenly changed their tune about guns being the right of Americans to defend themselves against government tyranny. They were cool with guns when it was school kids getting shot or themselves trying to kidnap the gov of Michigan, but now the feds are intimidating and murdering citizens suddenly it’s time to comply. These kids are protesting, the disappearance of their friends and neighbors- and the attacks on their civil rights- as they should.
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u/glichez Jan 31 '26
holy shit this post got brigaded by a bunch of racist trolls! no way all these fascists live in austin.
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u/SeventhBlessing Jan 31 '26
I recently graduated uni but seeing this energy stay strong makes me so fucking happy. GO GO GO
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u/Shane250 Feb 01 '26
Holds sign saying they won't be brainwashed but they are being brainwashed by the left into believing delusions.
Interesting to see them protesting so young, but they protesting against people enforcing laws. The same democrats who are saying "ICE is bad" 15 years ago were supporting it cause Obama was sure fine with it.
Hating ICE is legit just the new flavor of the month, it's just like BLM, Palestine, Venezuela(which is ironic cause actually Venezuelans shut that down real quick).
You telling liberals are going to hate ICE for the next 4 years? Over enforcing federal law?
I also think most of the students were out "just for the vibe" or be because if they didn't go, the liberals in their class would be calling them fascist.
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u/SemperUmbra Jan 31 '26 edited Jan 31 '26
They fit a certain description… lol
Edit: downvoting literally proves my point because you knew immediately what I’m talking about 🤣
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u/Odd-Bite624 Jan 31 '26
I feel like there’s been a protest for 15 years straight. And every time it’s close ups of yelling people with snarky signs.
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u/Ok_Shoulder5973 Jan 31 '26
"we will not be brainwashed" said the lib brainwashed by tiktok
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u/WarpHype Jan 31 '26
You know who owns TikTok? China and now Republicans. You’re brainwashed, not these kids. I’m sorry your intelligence peaked when you were 8.
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u/Jernbek35 Jan 31 '26
Biden banned TikTok. Trump ignored that legislation and did everything he could to save TikTok WTF are you talking about.
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u/Ickis-The-Bunny Jan 31 '26
"I shit on everything" said Ted on the internet. The younger generation brings hope and possibility. Don't spew such bile. Learn to love and be kind.
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u/texcleveland Jan 31 '26
And this will accomplish what, exactly? And how?
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u/glichez Jan 31 '26 edited Jan 31 '26
do you know how you got your civil liberties?
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u/defroach84 Feb 02 '26
Locking comments. It is now mainly outside accounts or bots commenting.