Over 200 students at A.C. Reynolds High School in Western North Carolina walked out of class on Wednesday to protest ICE policies and immigration enforcement, according to organizers. The student-led demonstration involved signs and chants, calling for changes to current policies, according to organizers.
The walkout occurred on Wednesday, Feb. 18, at approximately 11 a.m. Approximately 200 students gathered in the school's common area to express their concerns. A student at A.C. Reynolds High, Tommy Philyaw, said the protesters, according to him, represented students who could not attend.
Buncombe County Schools acknowledged the protest, stating that while the demonstration was not school-organized, they respected the students' right to peacefully express their views, according to a statement. The school district maintained normal operations, but attendance policies were modified during the walkout. School resource officers were present to ensure student safety.
The A.C. Reynolds High School protest was one of several demonstrations across western North Carolina. Students from Nesbitt Discovery Academy organized a protest at their school and later in downtown Asheville on the same day. The previous day, students from T.C. Roberson High School protested near the entrance to Biltmore Park.