Students Organize Walkouts to Protest Immigration Policies Across Virginia
Students in the Williamsburg area joined a growing movement of high school walkouts across Virginia, as they voiced their concerns over federal immigration policies. On Tuesday, a significant number of students from Lafayette and Warhill high schools participated in peaceful demonstrations aimed at highlighting what they perceive as aggressive actions against immigrants in the U.S.
This initiative follows similar protests by students in Virginia Beach and Gloucester County on Friday, and earlier actions by schools in Norfolk and Newport News. Students from Jamestown High School are slated to join this statewide expression of dissent with their own protest on Wednesday. Additionally, students in Suffolk also carried out a walkout on Tuesday.
“We have seen this occurring all over the country, and by participating in these stories, students are making history,” a student remarked in an email.
At Lafayette High School, over 250 students took part in the protest. Principal Howard Townsend emphasized the school’s commitment to supporting students in expressing their views, noting that the demonstration was conducted within the school’s guidelines and was both orderly and informative.
In a prior communication to families at Warhill High, Principal Michele Newcomb acknowledged the school division’s neutral stance on the walkout but affirmed the students’ right to peaceful protest. “Students leading this effort have shared their plans with school administrators,” Newcomb stated, “and we will continue to work with them to ensure that the walkout is safe and orderly for participants and non-participants.” She also cautioned that students who left campus or disrupted school operations might face disciplinary measures.
Meanwhile, in Virginia Beach, several students at Bayside High School faced suspension for not returning to class after their protest.
James W. Robinson, 757-799-0621, james.robinson@virginiamedia.com
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