Approximately 150 students at Plymouth Whitemarsh High School took part in a protest against ICE on the sidewalk adjacent to the school. These types of protests have recently occurred at numerous schools across the nation in response to President Donald Trump’s immigration enforcement and the tactics being used by ICE.

Plymouth Whitemarsh High School Principal Dr. Jason Bacani and Superintendent Dr. Michael Christian
sent an email to the school’s parents stating that they were aware of anonymous social media posts promoting the “peaceful student walkout” and that the school had received anonymous messages in opposition to the protest. They stressed that they did not know who organized it and that it was not sponsored by the Colonial School District or any school clubs.

The pair went on to state that, “we recognize and respect students’ right to peacefully assemble and have a plan prepared so that if students choose to participate, the protest can take place in a safe environment.”

The outlined plan included closing a portion of Colonial Drive between 9:30 a.m. to 10:45 a.m. and that district administration, security personnel, and the Whitemarsh Township Police Department had all been made aware and would have a presence during the protest. No non-students were permitted on campus to participate.

In response to the students not participating in class, the students will receive an unexcused absence. The principal and superintendent wrote:

While we are sensitive to the thoughts and feelings our students have on a variety of issues, we have a responsibility to conduct our daily instruction. Students who do not report to class will be marked as cutting class and as an unexcused absence. Standard consequences, as outlined in our code of conduct, would apply for missing class, and students will be required to make up any missed assignments. Thursday is a scheduled instructional day, and we have an obligation to provide instruction and mandate attendance for all.

Please note that the estimated number of participants is a number provided to us by the district, which was noted as not a firm number. On social media, we saw someone state it was 300.

Photos: Submitted