The First Amendment states that people have the right to an assembly. In 1969 when students protested against Vietnam War, the Supreme Court ruled that even students have these rights within the classroom.
On February 6, 2026 at 11:30 students across Baltimore County planned a walkout in protest of ICE. Some student groups planned to work within the confines of school regulations as stated in the BCPS student handbook that “Students’ right to assemble is subject to school authorities setting reasonable limits regarding…[the]…assemble.” (Board of Education Policy 5610 – School-Sponsored Media/Student Journalists and Superintendent’s Rule 5610).
These restrictions would make it safer for students, as BCPS has prohibited the entry of ICE on school grounds. While a rumored second group of protesting students planned on walking out of the confines of the school campus, to get their message out even more outside of the school and to the local community, to leave campus would come with consequences.
Students were also advised that they “….are responsible for controlling their conduct …Student expression can neither infringe upon the rights of others nor disrupt classroom or school procedures. Students are responsible for recognizing the rights of others to have opinions which differ from their own.”
Jayden Fields, Vice president of Kenwood’s SGA, confirms that “We didn’t really organize the protest ourselves. It was with the working of different schools along with students here that particularly wanted to protest. We just wanted to give them a platform or a way to support them…give them a place to properly protest.”
For students to be able to have a safe protest “[Where] we can protest and had a better way to get all students involved instead of just a few students,” The vice president and president -Yareli Velasquez-both consulted with Principal Smith.
“We brought some concerns to her like if we were even allowed to protest at the school? Or if we could even walk out like some were planning?” Smith shared with student government that her position has to remain unbiased so the school cannot say we can or cannot do it, but at the same time students have rights to use their first amendment which is being able to protest.
SGA advisor Ms. McRae corroborates this that she “was made aware of plans of a walkout…what it was about and when it was planned for and… talked with student leaders about [the] impact of what’s going to happen,” but she and other staff were not a part of the planning or organizing.
Students were given the option of walking out to the back on the field as it would still be considered on campus and the school would be able to provide a sense of safety. Ashley Letran-Lovo and Genesis Posadas, who are not a part of SGA but were part of the organizers of the protest that collaborated with students in other schools- were initially working with Eastern Tech to try to meet up outside to walk the protest through the community streets.
Both sides- students participating and staff- worried about the safety of students if they left campus but students also wanted to effectively get their message across and seen. One student protestor shared, ” I talked with a student protester about why she was here she said “I’m here because I want to use my voice for those who can’t in fear. I’m concerned about everything that’s going on with recent ICE shootings. I’m here for those scared to come out their house.”
Students were prepared to walk out of the building around 10:55, many holding signs in support of immigrants and against ICE. Students even came prepared with extra signs made for those without any.
Ms. Smith, who was amongst the gathered students, announced, “If you are not choosing to go to class…[you] need to make that happen cause we can’t be in the lobby like this. I would encourage you to return to your classes. If you choose to do something otherwise that is on you.”
One student who wanted to give their support but did not want to leave campus shared, “There was probably close to 200 students it looked like that were willing to participate in the walkout. Some like myself just walked out but never left campus and quickly returned to the inside of the building while others continued on through the neighborhood.”
As students approached convenience store that sits between Kenwood High and Stemmers Run Middle School, they were flanked by many cop cars, who were present to keep the peace. It was only a couple officers at first but soon there were 4-5 cops following the protest to ensure safety and peace. One neighbor notified Kenwood that “it was wonderful to see the kids protesting and how respectful they were when they walked the neighborhood”.
Despite where anyone may stand on the issue, students organized themselves through their instagram Bluebirds.against.ICE, approached the appropriate people in authority with their questions and concerns, and decided on their own, though potentially with consequences, on whether to exercise their first amendment right and protest against the recent actions of ICE.
Kenwood student leaders that organized their fellow students to protest in the local community shared, The Kenwood protest leaders ,Ashley and Genesis, revealed in the after effects “We feel like we got our word out. We went against some protocols but…very worth it as we got our message seen in the community.”
