Anti-ICE protests in schools: Parents, get ready for 'May Day' walkouts
Hundreds of schools allowed anti-ICE walkouts and protests in the first quarter of 2026. More are planned for May Day (May 1), funded by far-left interests.
Should these anti-ICE walkouts during school hours and the vulgar signage receive few or no penalties?
And will we soon see more of these incidents turn to violence?
Schools had better grapple quickly with such important questions, as more protests are planned this spring.
According to the organization Defending Education, at least 394 school protests were held through March 2026 compared to 59 in all of 2025 and even fewer in prior years. Most protests this year expressed anti-ICE sentiments, but some addressed the topics of Palestine, gun control, and education funding. Objections to Turning Point USA also occurred, although these were more numerous in 2025 after Charlie Kirk’s murder.
Defending Education says its count is probably low, since it relied on local news reports.
The tenor of many of the events was beyond disrespectful, with signs reflecting poorly on academic rigor and showcasing student indoctrination:
“No Cooperation with Deportation.”
“F--k ICE.”
“No Human is Illegal.”
“No One is Illegal on Stolen Land.”
“Protect the Students — ICE Out Now.”
“ICE is KKK spelled differently.”
“If You’re an I.C.E. Agent Ya Mom’s a Hoe!”
“ICE Melts Under Resistance.”
“Skipping Our Lessons to Teach You One.”
A school counselor in the Olentangy School District in Ohio appeared in a class picture holding a sign reading, “You cannot love God and ICE.”
Several protests morphed into a “skip school” day where teens descended on local businesses. In North College Hill in Cincinnati, a demonstration during school hours ended with a number of students leaving campus. Some ran through a nearby Kroger, throwing beer cans, shouting anti-ICE comments, and vulgarities.
At Hayes High School in Delaware, Ohio, a senior organized an anti-ICE protest during school hours.
In reality, classrooms are avoiding the truth in favor of social-emotional learning (SEL) goals, including demands for “equity” and DEI that wildly distort previous understandings about civil rights. And the newer iteration, “transformative SEL,” directs students specifically toward “agency” to demand change. Translated, that means street action.
The National Education Association and others are spending millions to train activists to stage May Day (May 1) anti-ICE, Marxist events at schools, sometimes with outsiders entering school buildings in what is called a “walk-in.”
Even grade schoolers are being trained for disruption. A group called Pint Size Protesters holds events called “Playdates with a Purpose” for middle and elementary grade students. At these playdates, children learn that “No human being is illegal,” and similar deceptive cliches as they decorate personalized backpacks and make whistle kits. Whistles are used for street action to disrupt legitimate ICE operations.
The good news is that some school administrators are holding students accountable.
At Wilson High School in Spring Township, Pennsylvania, the principal ordered students back to class under threat of suspension.
Over 300 high schoolers in the Prince William School District in Virginia were suspended for three days after an ICE protest. Unfortunately, when hundreds of students walked out again a week later, no suspensions were given.
Here in my state of Ohio, one terrific principal did the right thing. At Jonathan Alder High School in Plain City, students were notified before a planned walkout during school that it was not permitted and that there would be disciplinary action taken.
What does all this mean? It means that the climate in education has become more heated as indoctrination in many schools intensifies.
We have to stand up, keep standing, and keep praying.
Linda Harvey is President of Mission America.
