On Feb. 19, Students FAIR (For Asylum Immigration Rights), the PHS chapter of a county-wide club, organized a walkout to protest against ICE and the Trump administration’s recent policies.
Students gathered in the ISP hub at the beginning of 6th period and jointly walked out of the building to the track, where multiple students delivered speeches. Both the organizers and the PHS administration estimated that around 300-400 students were in attendance.
During the walkout, many student speakers spoke out. Freshman Sami Osman and seniors Emely Segovia and Isa Rincon-Noble all shared unique personal experiences with the crowd. Freshman Daniel Ortiz Rodriguez read a letter in Spanish from a child in a detention center, while Freshman Tania Rivera translated it into English to connect with all listeners.
Senior Hilary Mbouna, President of Students FAIR, found inspiration for organizing the protest from a student in her club.
“A student specifically asked me if Students FAIR was planning one, because she and her friends were willing to help out,” said Mbouna.
The Students Fair officers wanted to make sure their event was consistent with MCPS policy, which states that students have the right to “assemble for discussion of issues of importance to them, and to demonstrate peacefully.” Mbouna and the other organizers reached out to Principal Mr. Mark Carothers and Assistant Principal Mr. Daniel McKenna.
“I understand that this seems very tedious and that working with the admin’s acknowledgement seems almost counterproductive to the point of a ‘walkout,’” stated Mbouna. However, she affirmed that the target of the protest wasn’t policies from PHS.
“It’s with the county, state, and federal government for allowing this to happen,” explained Mbouna.
Working with the administration was the best way to organize the walkout for Students FAIR.
“Taking our course of action was just something we did to make sure every participant was safe, because unfortunately as a few officers we can’t realistically expect to be solely responsible for hundreds of demonstrating students,” commented Mbouna.
PHS administration’s level of involvement was very low, however. While administrators observed the event, they were unable to help plan or endorse the event because staff members are required to stay impartial.
“We don’t get involved with the real planning of the event in terms of what’s happening beyond just wanting to know where it’s going to be,” said McKenna.
MCPS has strict policies involving walkouts and protests, such as requiring students to make up all missed work. PHS staff took measures to ensure the event remained peaceful and safe for all students.
“They’re not planned by administration,” clarified McKenna. “They’re not endorsed by administration. …[we want to] make sure everybody is safe and people aren’t wandering off campus.”
Although administration remained neutral, they support students’ broader rights to free speech and assembly, which McKenna believes should be fostered in the school environment.
“Developing, like, a sense of citizenship and, you know, being a part of the political process, those are all things that we want to support,” said McKenna.
“I think protests absolutely have a place at school and if anything should happen more often,” Mbouna said, echoing that sentiment.
According to Mbouna, Students FAIR leaders were surprised by the turnout and are happy with the success of the protest.
