Bethesda Students Demand ICE-Free Campuses With Walkout

Hundreds of students at Walt Whitman High School in Bethesda walked out during fifth period to protest ICE activity on school grounds and pressed Montgomery County Public Schools to adopt a policy barring ICE enforcement on campus and to educate students on civil liberties. Organizers Evan Schwartz and Dalia Rees framed the action as part of broader youth political engagement; a freshman shared fears about identification and safety. District officials outlined existing visitor procedures and reaffirmed students’ right to peaceful assembly, noting that walkouts can result in unexcused absences.