A New York City (NYC) preschool is facing heated backlash after a video emerged of kindergartners being coached into participating in a protest against federal immigration enforcement.
The protest occurred at Chloe Day School, a “progressive trauma-informed preschool and wellness space” located in Harlem.
The video showed a woman who identified herself as Dr. Canton, the director of the school, leading the charge.
Watch:
BREAKING: Chloe Day School in New York held an anti-ICE protest at school where kindergartners held anti-ICE and anti-Trump signs
Little kids were encouraged to say they’re angry at ICE and the Trump admin for arresting criminal illegals
Crazy as hell pic.twitter.com/WnRQmyo9MK
— Libs of TikTok (@libsoftiktok) February 1, 2026
“Today is a national day of protest for all the violent things that we’re seeing happening across our city,” Canton said in the video. “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.”
“So some of our friends are going to share how they feel about what’s happening and what they want to see happen in our government to change the harm that we see,” she added.
Canton then coached some of the children into trash-talking U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“So how do you feel about what’s happening? … What did you tell us earlier?” she asked one child.
“I feel angry,” the child replied.
“Because you don’t like to see what?” Canton pressed in what appeared to be a deliberate act of coaching the child.
“I don’t like to see people who are hurt or taken away from their family,” the child replied.
Canton then asked two other children their thoughts.
“What do we want to say?” she asked them before coaching them into saying “stop the …”
“Hating!” the children replied.
Canton then turned to three other children, all of whom had evidently been coached beforehand into saying the following together: “Enough is enough. Stop hurting people.”
Finally, Canton turned to the rest of the class, including her teaching aids, all of whom repeated exactly what the previous three children had said.
The segment concluded with Canton’s aides repeating some of the same mindless, arguably ignorant platitudes.
Backlash to the video has been intense and seemingly bipartisan, with even Trump haters raising concerns:
I’m against Trump, but agree this is way too much.
— Coinspiracy Theorist (@CoinTheorist) February 1, 2026
This is sickening. These kids have no idea what ICE and illegals are.
They’re being coached.
— Liberacrat™️ (@ViralVideos) February 1, 2026
They should be learning the alphabet or simple addition, not being groomed into cancerous ideological thinking at the hands of adults.
— The Moderate Case (@TheModerateCase) February 1, 2026
This has to stop. These children have no clue about politics and how dare you teach these kids that its ok to break the law. This is indoctrination of the highest level.
— Paulz Doggy Blogz (@Paulzdoggyblogz) February 1, 2026
Exploiting those poor children.. they don’t even have a chance because that crazy mindset and victimhood that is placed upon them from grown ass adults.. child abuse
— Trippy (@Trap3D) February 1, 2026
Using 5 years olds as political pawns is outrageous. These kids haven’t even learned to tie their own shoes, and they’re being taught to hate law enforcement? Chloe Day School should be ashamed. This is brainwashing, not education. Spare our children.
— Elite Man (@EliteMan091) February 1, 2026
This is child abuse manipulation With irreversible side effects if not addressed correctly. Which damages a child’s ability to analyze and choose their own path based on logical information? Other than somebody subjecting you to their beliefs and adapting those as a foundation.
— The People (@NaturalSenseIAm) February 1, 2026
While this was one of many, many, many school-related anti-ICE protests seen across the country, this appeared to be the only one involving children so stunningly young.
Most of the protests have involved high school kids skipping class to go protest ICE outside and, in some cases, beat up dissenters.
Writers and editors can be contacted at [email protected] with feedback, tips, or corrections.
V. Saxena is a staff writer with a decade of experience as a professional writer, and a lifetime of experience as an avid news junkie. He holds a degree in computer technology from Purdue University. Saxena also contributes to BizPac Review.
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