Anti-ICE protests have been taking place across the country in recent weeks, drawing strong reactions from supporters of Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Many of those supporters not only oppose the protests themselves but also argue that schools should be held responsible if demonstrations are allowed on campus. Some critics have gone further, accusing schools of indoctrinating students.
That debate intensified after a video began circulating among pro-ICE groups, sparking outrage among conservatives. The footage allegedly shows kindergarten-aged children taking part in an anti-ICE protest. In the video, a woman identifies herself as the director of Chloe Day School in New York. She explains that the recording was made during a day of protest against what she described as ongoing violence in the city.
The New York director was surrounded by kindergartners holding protest signs as she continued to explain what they were doing. One sign visible in the background read, “We are stronger together.” According to the director, the plan had been to take the students outside to protest, but cold weather led them to move the demonstration indoors instead. “So today, we decided in solidarity we will support all those who are out protesting against the violence that we see and the harm that we see happening to our friends,” she said. She then encouraged the children to share how they felt about the situation.
The woman began by asking one kindergarten student how he felt. “I feel all of it,” he replied. She then prompted him to repeat what he had told them earlier on camera. “I feel angry,” the child said. Rather than letting him continue freely, the director followed up with a guiding question. “Because you don’t like to see what?” she asked. This moment led the person who shared the video to claim that the child was being coached. “I don’t like to see when people are hurt or taken away from their family,” the boy continued.
The director then called on two more children and asked what they wanted to say. “Stop the?” she prompted, before the children finished the phrase by saying “the hating.”
After that, three additional students were invited to speak, chanting, “Enough is enough. Stop hurting people.” The director then turned her attention to the camera. “We teach kindness and when we work together we are a better world. Thank you. We’re fighting with you even though we’re inside,” she said. Critics argue that if the children were taught or prompted to say these statements, the situation raises serious concerns.
People Reacting to the New York Day School’s Video
People, especially those who are pro-ICE, were livid at what the New York day school did. They believed that children shouldn’t be used in politics at all. “Children should NOT be involved in politics‼‼‼ This is SO wrong! Should require parental consent,” one person wrote. This made another person reply, “they’re not even children, they’re just little babies at this stage.” Someone else compared the education children receive to that of other countries as they said, “Meanwhile children in China are learning about physics and science.” One TikTok user even claimed, “Education system has been indoctrinating kids for 30 years.” Another person had a similar idea as they said, “see this is the part of indoctrination this is where they get the kids at a young age and they twist the mind.”
Outrage continued to grow online as more people reacted to the video involving the New York day school. Many commenters described how they would respond if the situation involved their own children. “This is wrong! I’d sue the school district & pull my child out!” one person wrote. Another said, “My child would be taken out of that school so fast!”
Some viewers speculated that the children had been instructed on what to say before filming began. “They definitely coached these kids to say that beforehand. They do not want to be there,” one commenter claimed. Another added, “They should be FIRED on the spot! And banned from teaching! OUTRAGEOUS.”
Given the nature of the video, it is understandable why some people found the situation upsetting.
