Last Friday, (2/6), AHS students held a demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) directly after W6, and into W8 block. The day prior, Principal Shawn DeRose sent an email to the community detailing that by the Student Rights & Responsibilities (SR&R), it could not be held: “While the FCPS SR&R recognizes that students have a right to express their views through speech and peaceful protests, there are rules around when and how students can do this that need to be followed,”he said. “Students are not permitted to stage a walk-out demonstration during the school day as this can disrupt instruction time and lead to safety and security concerns.”
This notice was sent in response to the student organizers not following the official procedures to approve the demonstration with the school, a practice required for any public demonstration. Regardless, DeRose recommended the students follow correct protocol and once their request is addressed after five days of communication, they would be able to follow through with the demonstration.
In line with the required FCPS protocol, the students organizing the protest were allegedly notified, before the email was sent,that if they followed through with the 2/6 demonstration, they would be unable to attend senior Prom and walk at graduation.
Around 70 students met at the school’s blacktop near the band boosters to stand against ICE with the supervision of several staff and administrators.. All students remained safe during the demonstration and many students shared their stories and advocated for the end of ICE—to protect their families and their community.
Throughout the walkout, students were chanting many phrases such as “whose streets, OUR STREETS” and others like “ICE OUT OF VIRGINIA.” Many also held hand-drawn signs with protest slogans such as “without immigrants, American can’t be great.”
“Participating in the ICE walk out at our school was really enjoyable. Hearing people speaking up and sharing their thoughts and experiences was nice to hear and reminded us that we need to speak out more for what we need and what’s right” junior Sophie Chavez said.
The demonstration was held for about half an hour and afterwards, students were led back inside the building by administrators and were guided through the weapon detector system once again. Afterwards, they were given a tardy pass back to class signed by a staff member. No further disciplinary actions were taken against
students, apart from being marked tardy for W8.
These provisions ensured students were able to participate in the demonstration yet remained supported as they re-entered the classroom.
“Thank you for partnering with me as we work to ensure students are in class learning.” “…[P]lease know that I am working with the organizers of a recent demonstration request to see what alternative arrangements might be made,” DeRose wrote in his email.
While the walkout was happening at AHS, Justice High School was also holding their own demonstration against ICE, showing the concerned sentiment FCPS students share around this topic as they try to find hope in this time of political unrest.
