Protests at more than a dozen schools disrupted much of the school day for students across the San Antonio area on Tuesday.
SAN ANTONIO — Protests at more than a dozen schools disrupted much of the school day for students across the San Antonio area on Tuesday, as hundreds of students walked out of class to protest federal law enforcement presence and what they say is its impact on their communities.
From New Braunfels to Woodlawn Lake Park, students gathered in peaceful demonstrations they described as intentional and focused on calling for a more humane and secure future.
Students said their concerns are shaped both by what they learn in school and what they witness in real life.
“Somewhere a little kid is hiding in the attic writing about I.C.E. It’s a reference to Anne Frank during the Holocaust,” one student said.
Others shared personal experiences tied to immigration and family separation.
“I’m a proud daughter of an immigrant, and it’s not right to see a bunch of families get separated,” another student said.
At Brandeis High School, parents and grandparents joined students as they marched and rallied outside the campus.
“I’m sad for these kids because we didn’t grow up in a world like this,” one parent said. “I want to make sure they know when they do this, they know they have us.”
Another adult supporter emphasized the moral aspect of the demonstrations, saying the protests were about “humanity” and understanding “what’s right and wrong.”
Students at O’Connor High School echoed similar sentiments, saying they felt compelled to speak out for themselves and those they care about.
“I know the world I want to grow up in, and I know the people I love and care about deserve a world they can grow up in without fear,” one student said.
Northeast Independent School District provided a statement to KENS 5 acknowledging students’ rights to express their views, while also outlining potential consequences for leaving campus.
“While the campus respects our students’ rights to express their individual views, our highest priorities are to maintain students’ safety,” the district said in part. “Should students participate in a walkout, we want to be clear that students will be considered truant from class, resulting in an unexcused absence.”
Despite warnings from schools and districts, students continued to walk out, saying they felt it was necessary to make their voices heard and advocate for the future they want to see.
“I feel really strong that everyone here is equal and no one should be killed because of their skin tone,” one student said.
Another added, “I believe we will change what’s going on, and we don’t want to repeat this again in history.”
Full statement from SAISD
“We are hearing that some students may protest offsite during the school day tomorrow. We encourage you to speak to your child to determine if they plan to participate, and if so, to discuss your feelings on their participation and the potential consequences.
It is important to know that participation off-campus in this activity is not a district-sanctioned event, and staff will not escort students. If a student leaves the campus without parental permission and misses class to participate, they will be subject to consequences aligned with our student code of conduct and extracurricular bylaws related to student discipline.
Our district continues to support civic engagement and responsible advocacy within a safe and structured environment that also protects instructional time. Since a safe off-campus protest cannot be assured, we give students a safe on-campus space to exercise their rights to peacefully protest during their lunch periods, or before or after school.
While we encourage student voice, we also encourage safety – and our wish would be for them to remain safely on campus. Once students are off-campus, parents are responsible for their child’s safety. Therefore, we do not recommend nor encourage off-campus protest without the supervision of a parent/guardian.
Student safety is a top priority at SAISD schools, and we want to keep families informed of situations as soon as we are able to give you time to have conversations with your child. We thank you for your support and understanding.”
Full statement from NEISD
“NEISD is aware of student protests going on this week. Here is how our schools are handling the situation:
While the campus respects our students’ rights to express their individual views, our highest priorities are to maintain students’ safety on campus and preserve a rich learning environment accessible to all of our students.
Should students participate in a walkout, we want to be clear that students will be considered truant from class resulting in an unexcused absence. Additionally, if the event creates a significant disruption to learning or creates any type of physical danger to others such as bringing weapons or inciting violence, students will receive disciplinary consequences ranging from detention or In-school suspension to Out-of-school suspension or recommendation to an alternative educational setting.
Campus administration will maintain vigilance about the potential of a walkout; communicate with NEPD and NEISD campus safety about any needs for support; communicate with faculty about response practices, and with families about new developments. We also want to encourage families to speak with your student(s) about the potential dangers and/or consequences of participating in an event of this nature.”