High school walkouts over ICE stir debates among parents, officials

Newsletters Morning Report 12:30 Report Evening Report Business Defense Health Care Technology Newsletter Energy & Environment Whole Hog Politics The Gavel The Movement

Technology Newsletter

NEWS Senate House Administration Courts Future America Media Campaign News Education In The Know Latino LGBTQ DC News Race & Politics State Watch Print Edition People in the News

POLICY Defense Health Care Energy & Environment Technology Transportation International Cybersecurity National Security Space Sustainability

BUSINESS Budget Taxes Personal Finance Lobbying

OPINION Columnists Congress Blog All Contributors Opinions – Campaign Opinions – Civil Rights Opinions – Criminal Justice Opinions – Cybersecurity Opinions – Education Opinions – Energy and Environment Opinions – Finance Opinions – Healthcare Opinions – Immigration Opinions – International Opinions – Judiciary Opinions – National Security Opinions – Technology Opinions – White House Submit Opinion Content

All Contributors Opinions – Campaign Opinions – Civil Rights Opinions – Criminal Justice Opinions – Cybersecurity Opinions – Education Opinions – Energy and Environment Opinions – Finance Opinions – Healthcare Opinions – Immigration Opinions – International Opinions – Judiciary Opinions – National Security Opinions – Technology Opinions – White House

Opinions – Civil Rights

Opinions – Criminal Justice

Opinions – Cybersecurity

Opinions – Energy and Environment

Opinions – Healthcare

Opinions – Immigration

Opinions – International

Opinions – National Security

Opinions – Technology

Opinions – White House

Submit Opinion Content

EVENTS Upcoming Events About

Content from Google Cloud

Slater’s departure at DOJ signals new era for antitrust under Trump Technology | 7 minutes ago

Where redistricting battles stand in key states as midterms ramp up Campaign | 7 minutes ago

High school walkouts over ICE stir debates among parents, officials Education | 7 minutes ago

Trump adds pressure on Thune to pass voting bill despite ‘talking filibuster’ misgivings Senate | 7 minutes ago

‘El Mencho’ killing signals volatile new chapter in Mexico’s drug war Defense | 7 minutes ago

Democrats conflicted over Trump’s Iran push Senate | 7 minutes ago

Whitmer defends trans rights after Trump SOTU: ‘No matter who comes after you, I’ll stand in the way’ LGBTQ | 7 hours ago

Whitmer says US-Canada bridge Trump threatened to block ‘will open’ State Watch | 9 hours ago

High school walkouts over ICE stir debates among parents, officials

Parents and some elected officials are cheering on high school students participating in anti-immigration enforcement walkouts over the past two months, while others have safety concerns about so many teenagers leaving school grounds.

Virginia Gov. Abigail Spanberger (D), whose state has seen hundreds of students suspended for “ICE out” protests, gave a shoutout to the young demonstrators in her Democratic rebuttal to the State of the Union on Tuesday night.

But others are unhappy about civil disobedience in the classroom, which has led to police confrontations, with school officials and some parents worried about those missing class and leaving adult supervision.

A poll from the National Parents Union conducted this month found 60 percent of parents believe schools should allow students to walk out in protest during school hours, but 48 percent say they should only be able to leave with adult supervision, and only 12 percent say such supervision is optional.

Thirty-three percent of parents believe schools should not allow walkouts at all, while 6 percent were unsure, according to the poll.

But opponents of the Trump administration’s immigration agenda say there has never been a greater need.

In her speech, Spanberger said that Americans “know better than any nation what is possible when ordinary citizens … reject the unacceptable and demand more of their government.”

“We see it in the determination of students organizing school walkouts all across the country, whose voices are becoming so powerful that the governor of Texas seeks to silence them. We see it in the bravery of Americans in Minnesota standing up for their communities — from peacefully protesting in subzero temperatures to carpooling children to school so that their immigrant parents are not ripped away from them in the parking lot,” she said.

“As a mother of three school-aged daughters, I am inspired by their bravery, but I am sickened that it is necessary,” she added.

Amy Roub, who has children at Satellite High in Brevard County, Fla., said she and other parents reached out to encourage students to protest after seeing the pushback from local and state officials.

“Our first thought was, like, ‘This is so cool,’” Roub said of when she and the other adults heard of their plans. “Then we started to see the reactions from the schools and the threats come from the board of education for Brevard, and then the administrators at certain high schools, and then the state board came out with a scare tactic trying to scare teachers into not encouraging them.”

“They should be encouraged to use their First Amendment rights. This is an American tradition, and we have to allow them to practice it,” she added.

While students have a First Amendment right to protest in schools, administrators also have a right to punish them for demonstrations that disrupt normal classroom operations, such as strikes or walkouts. And elected leaders in states including Florida, Texas and Oklahoma have encouraged them to do so.

But some protests have escalated beyond school punishments: Students in Pennsylvania and Ohio have recently been arrested amid walkouts against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).

In Quakertown, Pa., multiple students were arrested after police say they damaged property during the walkouts, according to local reports. Students and parents are pushing back on the allegations and accusing the officers of escalating the situation.

In Cincinnati, some students who left school grounds allegedly vandalized a Kroger, Fox 19 Now reported.

Parents say it is up to the schools to control the situation and keep students safe, though school officials argue that job becomes impossible once kids leave the grounds.

“As long as there’s supervision, and all the grown-ups understand that number one, you know, your First Amendment rights do not end at the schoolhouse gate, which we all know. And then, frankly, it’s the responsibility of grown-ups to make sure that when kids are doing this and participating and learning how to use their voices, that we just want to keep them safe. I think that’s when you know kids are learning the most out of all of this,” said Keri Rodrigues, president of the National Parents Union.

Schools are also facing counterpressure from Republican politicians and other parents who are not supportive of the walkouts.

ABC 7 reported a student with special needs in Illinois was found miles from the school after a walkout left its agreed-upon route.

“Parents are frustrated and scared. I would say parents deserve to have the confidence that their children are safe at schools, that they’re learning to read and write and do math, but they’re not being sent to school to be drafted into a political movement,” said Tina Descovich, CEO of Moms for Liberty.

In Texas, three schools are under investigation for allegedly encouraging students to participate in protests.

“We’re watching [teachers] encourage, we’re watching them wear blue in solidarity with those that are walking out, and parents don’t want this in school. They do not want the political activism. They just want their children to read,” Descovich said.

Omar says her State of the Union guest was arrested for standing during ...

Crockett up by double digits in Texas Senate Democratic primary poll

Vance, Oz announce pause in Medicaid funds to Minnesota amid fraud probe

Wall Street Journal: ‘Smart play’ would have been for Trump to forgo, pause ...

House appears on track to defeat resolution curbing Trump’s war powers in Iran

Trump State of the Union piles pressure on Johnson for second reconciliation ...

Senate Democrats emerge from secret Iran briefing warning of ...

Durbin whistleblowers accuse Patel of jet usage, decisionmaking that hindered ...

Pennsylvania Democrats win state House special elections, keeping majority ...

Fetterman on Democrats ‘yelling and screaming’ during Trump ...

Whitmer says US-Canada bridge Trump threatened to block ‘will open’

Bessent on new Trump retirement plan: ‘We can do it through reconciliation’

Pam Bondi thought grand jurors were stupid. They showed her a thing or two.

Trump’s atypical surgeon general pick faces Senate scrutiny: Key takeaways

Applebee’s closing restaurants in 3 states

5 takeaways from President Trump’s State of the Union address

‘Major’ wave of seaweed heading toward these beaches ahead of spring break

Platner holds double-digit lead on Mills, Collins in Maine Senate race: Poll

2024 Election Results

2024 Election Forecast

Regulation - Administration

Energy & Environment Video Clips

Health Care Video Clips

Technology Video Clips

Transportation Video Clips

International Video Clips

Cybersecurity Video Clips

National Security Video Clips

Contributors to The Hill

Submit Opinion Content

Advertise with Nexstar

Journalistic Integrity

THE HILL 400 N CAPITOL STREET NW, SUITE 650 WASHINGTON DC 20002

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

By clicking on any of the sign up options below, you confirm that you have read and agree to our Terms of Use, which includes a jury trial waiver and class action waiver, and that you have read our Privacy Policy detailing our collection, use and sharing of your personal information.

The Hill is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.

Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.

The Hill is provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc., and uses the My Nexstar sign-in, which works across our media network.

Nexstar Media Group, Inc. is a leading, diversified media company that produces and distributes engaging local and national news, sports, and entertainment content across its television and digital platforms. The My Nexstar sign-in works across the Nexstar network—including The CW, NewsNation, The Hill, and more. Learn more at nexstar.tv/privacy-policy.

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Check your email inbox

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Thanks for registering!

Provided by Nexstar Media Group, Inc.

Are you sure you want to log out?

© The Hill

visit website