Students across Harford County Public Schools organized walkouts to show their opposition to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in recent weeks. Some students say the protests resulted in disciplinary action for not adhering to school rules.

Alphan Nthuo, a senior at Patterson Mill High School, and Raheem Kargbo, a senior at Edgewood High School, said students who participated in walkouts were given detention for missing class. Nthuo and Kargbo organized walkouts at their respective schools.

The Aegis asked HCPS whether the school system was aware of detentions being handed out at both high schools, but representatives from the district said they could not comment on student disciplinary actions.

In this year’s Parent-Student Handbook under “Offenses,” it states principals have the right and authority to discipline children, including suspension of up to 10 days, for offenses including disruption.

“Students who commit attendance-related violations are subject to school-based disciplinary consequences, but may not receive out-of-school suspension,” the handbook states.

Student-led walkouts have taken place across the country in recent weeks in response to ramped-up immigration enforcement activity and fatal shootings in Minnesota by ICE agents.

On Feb. 6, high school students throughout HCPS planned walkouts, but an unexpected three-hour early dismissal threw a small wrench in their plans. An announcement from the school system said students were dismissed early due to snow and possible icy conditions in the forecast.

Nthuo said roughly 20 to 30 students participated on Feb. 6 as students walked off Patterson Mill High School property and onto Emmorton Road.

“It’s awesome to see students from all walks of life are able to convene to be able to say, ‘Hey, this stuff isn’t right,’” he said.

Kargbo said about 60 to 80 Edgewood High students participated on Feb. 6. Edgewood students chose to continue their efforts into the following week, drawing larger crowds of roughly 200 students the following Monday.

“People were really fed up with how our local government has been treating the ICE situation,” Kargbo said. “I think being able to speak out, whether in writing or just sharing their thoughts and feelings, I thought was a great way to build community.”

Both Nthuo and Kargbo said they attempted to organize meetings with their respective principals ahead of the walkouts but were unable to do so.

In a Wednesday Wire message sent to families on Feb. 4, HCPS said the district was aware of possible student walkouts that week.

“A student walkout is not sanctioned by Harford County Public Schools,” the message said. “If a walkout occurs, HCPS staff will remain focused on instruction and existing safety policies and procedures.”

Also in the message, HCPS said students were expected to follow attendance, sign-out and behavior expectations and comply with school rules throughout the day. The school system also advised families to review the Parent-Student Handbook and familiarize themselves with Harford County Board of Education policies on students’ rights and responsibilities.

According to Board of Education policy on student expression, the school system acknowledges that students have the freedom to express opinions and take stands on topics, both publicly and privately.

It adds: “It is the student’s responsibility to see that his/her freedom of expression does not hinder the education or the rights of others.”

When attempting to reenter the building after the second walkout, Kargbo said students first went to a side entrance but were met by school staff blocking the doors and instructing them to sign in.

Students later moved to the front entrance, Kargbo added, where roughly three to four staff members were sitting at tables instructing students to sign in. The following day, detentions were handed out, Kargbo said.

Following the walkouts, Nthuo said there is talk of creating a countywide student union that would give students a channel to express themselves.

“We want students to be able to have political tools,” Nthuo said, “to be able to make a stand, to be able to have a say. Not only with demonstrations like this, but also to generally have existing political leverage within the political structure.”

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