From Staff Reports and the Florida Farmworkers Association
In Summary:
The walkout begins at 1:30 pm at the school’s bus loops on Martin Street and will proceed to the intersection of Martin Street and Park Avenue. Organizers are rallying under the theme “ICE breaks not just laws, but families,” arguing immigration enforcement has directly affected classmates and neighbors. While not involved in planning the protest, the Florida Farmworkers Association said it supports youth civic engagement and hopes to increase students' visibility.
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Students at Apopka High School are planning to step out of class and into the streets Friday afternoon for a peaceful walkout aimed at protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement and showing solidarity with families they say have been affected by detentions and deportations.
Related: Farmworker forum puts Apopka candidates face-to-face with flooding, growth, transparency — and immigrant fear.
The demonstration, scheduled for 1:30 p.m., will begin at the campus bus loops at 555 Martin St. and continue to the intersection of Martin Street and Park Avenue. Organizers say the walkout is meant to raise awareness, not disrupt or cause conflict.
Students are rallying around the message, “ICE breaks not just laws, but families,” arguing immigration enforcement has had direct consequences for classmates and neighbors in Apopka’s diverse community.
The event was announced through a media advisory distributed by the Florida Farmworkers Association, which emphasized that the protest was conceived and organized strictly by students.
“While FWAF believes strongly in the importance of peaceful, civic participation — especially for the youth — this event was not organized with our help or with our knowledge,” the group said. “However, we hope that we can use our media contacts to give these kids the visibility they deserve for their efforts, especially for an issue that has impacted their lives and community so much.”
Students coordinating the walkout are sharing updates through the Instagram account @apopka.walkout and say the demonstration will remain peaceful.
Local education leaders acknowledged students’ interest in civic issues but emphasized the need to stay focused on learning.
“I’m glad our students have learned the value of peaceful protests in our American History and Civics classes,” said Melissa Byrd, the Orange County Public Schools board member whose district includes Apopka, “but I do wish they would stay in class to learn other valuable lessons.”
School administrators have not publicly detailed how the walkout will be handled during the school day.
For many students, organizers say, the goal is to stand with friends and family and make their voices heard on an issue they view as both personal and political.
Key Points:
- Walkout scheduled for Friday at 1:30 pm
- Route begins at Apopka High bus loops and ends at Martin Street and Park Avenue
- Protest is organized strictly by students
- The theme focuses on family separation and community impact
- The Florida Farmworkers Association is distributing advisory and supporting media outreach
