Photo courtesy of the York Daily Record/ Dispatch
Students Lead Walkout Over ICE Concerns in York
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Asia Tabb
Photo courtesy of the York Daily Record/ Dispatch
AIRED; March 20, 2026
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Students at William Penn High School took their concerns beyond the classroom, organizing a walkout in downtown York to protest immigration enforcement and show support for classmates they say are living in fear.
Meredith Willse of the York Daily Record spoke with Asia Tabb on The Spark about her reporting on the student-led demonstration and what drove it.
“The students that I talked to… have been hearing from kids who are scared about going to school and encountering ICE officers,” Willse said. “They felt they had to be heard.”
According to Willse, students were motivated not only by national headlines but by stories within their own community, including concerns about deportation and family separation.
“They’re upset that they didn’t see enough adults… protesting,” she said. “So they wanted to step up because they felt the adults weren’t doing enough.”
The walkout began with a small group of organizers who were prepared to act regardless of turnout. But as they moved through the school, more students joined.
“They thought it was going to be a small group,” Willse said. “Then they started hearing more shouting behind them… more students came out of the school.”
Some students and staff who remained inside showed their support as well.
“A bunch of students and teachers’ faces were… cheering them on,” she said.
After leaving the school, students spent about 90 minutes marching through downtown, stopping at locations including the local library and courthouse. Along the way, they carried signs and flags reflecting their message.
“There were ‘ICE out’ signs… and Puerto Rican flags,” Willse said.
The energy of the protest was loud and visible, drawing reactions from the broader community.
“They were very excited and amped up,” she said. “People were… honking their horns at them, cheering them on.”
Organizers also took steps to keep the demonstration peaceful and safe, assigning students to monitor different parts of the group and ensure they stayed within designated areas.
“They made sure that they stayed… safely on the streets,” Willse said.
Despite the scale of the demonstration, students reported no disciplinary action from the school. In fact, some said they felt supported by educators afterward.
“They were congratulating them quietly when they came back,” Willse said. “The next day… they were telling them how proud they were.”
The walkout also appears to have had a ripple effect, inspiring similar efforts in other districts.
“Their goal was to be heard and help spread empathy,” Willse said. “Other school districts actually did protest… or are getting ready to.”
Reaction across the community has been mixed. While some residents praised the students for exercising their rights, others responded negatively online—prompting moderators to turn off comments on the story.
“There were some who showed up and said they were proud… even if they didn’t agree,” Willse said.
For Willse, one of the most memorable aspects of the story was the lasting impact on the students themselves.
“They still had the excitement from what they did,” she said. “They were so proud.”
But beneath that pride was a deeper concern—fear among students and families navigating uncertainty around immigration enforcement.
“They were talking about how… classmates… are just scared of what’s happening right now,” Willse said.
As students continue to organize and speak out, Willse said many plan to keep using their voices when they feel it’s necessary.
“They’re planning on doing protests in the future,” she said, “especially when they think their voices need to be heard.”
