Students in Washington state face confrontations during anti-ICE walkouts

SEATTLE — Thousands of Washington students walked out of school in February to protest increasing federal immigration enforcement, mirroring their peers speaking out across the nation. While hundreds of South King County and Seattle students have participated in peaceful demonstrations, a handful of students in Burien, Marysville, Everett, Enumclaw and Issaquah have faced more confrontational responses, at times resulting in arrests.

The confrontations in the past month were often heated exchanges with adults encountering the protests, though some have turned physical. One instance involved a woman brandishing a weapon as she drove by students protesting.

Like most similar demonstrations protesting the actions of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement nationwide, the Washington walkouts were student-led and held off-campus. As such, most schools and districts did not endorse the actions, nor did they provide specific guidance or permission for participation. Many school leaders — including in Seattle — issued statements reiterating their respect for students’ First Amendment rights, while also reminding students of attendance policies. Generally, students who participate in walkouts receive an unexcused absence, and are responsible for any coursework missed while protesting. An absence may be excused if a student’s guardian contacts the school in advance. Some schools give students detention if their absence is unexcused.

In Burien on Feb. 20, a woman raised a gun inside her car window as the driver pulled up to a stoplight near where Kennedy Catholic High School students were protesting ICE. In a video of the incident posted to Facebook by Se Habla News, the students can be heard yelling profanities and holding their middle fingers up to the truck where the woman was a passenger. The woman and the man driving the truck appear to shout back at the students before she raised what appeared to be a handgun. She did not point the gun at the students, but students can be heard screaming and seen backing away from the car.

“We are deeply grateful that no students were physically injured during this walkout and appreciate the communication and precautions student leaders took in preparation for this action,” wrote Matthew Mohs, Kennedy Catholic High School’s principal, in a letter home to families the day after the incident. He added that the car’s license plate was entered into the school’s security system, which will alert officials if the vehicle is seen on campus.

In Marysville on Feb. 5, a man engaged in a shouting match with Lakewood high school and middle school students and then threatened to shoot them, The Daily Herald reported.

Erin Murphy, the superintendent of Lakewood School District, confirmed in a letter sent to families that the district received a report of an interaction with a potentially armed community member. The district’s school resource officer determined police were already responding to the scene, where they found no evidence of a weapon, but will continue to investigate, Murphy wrote.

In Everett on Feb. 6, a woman drove her car slowly into a crowd of protesting middle and high school students, hitting one. No injuries were reported, according to The Daily Herald.

Another anti-ICE protest the day prior involving students from Lake Stevens High School included counterprotesters, who exchanged obscenities with the protesters, and a water bottle was reportedly thrown between one group and another, according to The Daily Herald.

The Lake Stevens School District sent an email to community members stating the walkouts were largely peaceful, while also noting that a small number of students “engaged in behavior that did not meet our expectations for safety and respect.” The district said it is investigating those instances, in partnership with the Lake Stevens Police Department.

In an email to The Seattle Times, the district did not elaborate on what student behavior did not meet its conduct expectations.

In Issaquah on Feb. 9, students grabbed a woman’s hair after threatening comments were exchanged.

A spokesperson for the Issaquah School District wrote in a statement that two adults, who aren’t affiliated with the district, intentionally engaged with students and later shared portions of their interaction on social media. The statement noted that schools can discipline students for off-campus behavior “only if it substantially disrupts the learning environment.” The district generally does not share information about specific disciplinary actions because they are part of students’ protected educational records.

Issaquah Police responded to the scene and, after an investigation, filed charges against four individuals in connection with the incident, Issaquah Police Chief Paula Schwan said in an email.

“Consistent with past practices and due to the involvement of juveniles, the department will not be releasing the names of those charged,” the department wrote in a news release Thursday.

“In general, Issaquah Police provides a presence at city demonstrations, including student-organized walkouts or protests, for the purpose of maintaining public safety and keeping the peace,” Schwan added. “Our role is to support the safety of all participants and the broader community while respecting individuals’ rights to lawful expression.”

In Enumclaw on Feb. 13, two students were arrested for resisting police authority.

The Enumclaw Police Department said in a statement that on the day Enumclaw students walked out, the department received reports of protesters possibly possessing a firearm. While investigating the firearm report, police were informed of an “unprovoked assault that had been captured on video,” the statement read. When officers attempted to make an arrest, protesters surrounded and directed derogatory remarks toward the officers, according to the statement. Two juvenile suspects were arrested. Charges of assault in the fourth degree, obstruction and resisting arrest will be recommended for one suspect and obstruction charges will be recommended for the second suspect, according to the statement.

Jill Burnes, the Enumclaw School District superintendent, echoed sentiments communicated by other district officials across the region in a Feb. 13 letter.

“Families sometimes ask what schools can do to prevent walkouts or demonstrations from happening,” Burnes wrote. “The reality is that schools have limited authority to stop peaceful student expression. As a public school, we must balance student rights with our responsibility to maintain order and protect the rights of others.”

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