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Hundreds of students from Meadowdale High School and Middle School left their classrooms and lined nearby streets Friday morning to protest recent national Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) actions across the U.S.
According to Meadowdale Middle School Principal Joseph Webster, high school students began demonstrating mid-morning and they were later joined by hundreds of middle school students. Webster said that he and some teachers were on hand to ensure the students’ safety.
“This is a student-led, student-organized, student-initiated action,” Webster said.
The Meadowdale protest followed a similar demonstration by Edmonds-Woodway High School and College Place Middle School students on Wednesday.
Edmonds School District spokesperson Curtis Campbell said earlier this week that in anticipation of possible student-led ICE protests, the District had notified parents last week of their students’ rights. “Students who walk out or miss classes will receive unexcused absences, as they would if they skipped or left for any other reason,” Campbell said.
“The Edmonds School District respects students’ First Amendment rights to peaceful assembly and free expression under ESD Policy 3223 (Freedom of Assembly),” the District notification to parents said. “At the same time, leaving class without prior approval will be treated as an unexcused absence, and once students leave campus, the school cannot always supervise their actions.”
What does an unexcused absence mean? I know what it meant when my child was in school, but what does it mean now? The teachers who stood by, I’m sure were on their lunch break. Thank you.