From Staff Reports
In Summary:
Students at Apopka High School left campus during seventh period on Friday to stage a peaceful protest against ICE along Martin Street. Orange County Public Schools officials acknowledged students’ right to express their views while emphasizing attendance policies under the district’s Code of Student Conduct. The walkout followed a warning from West Orange High administrators that leaving class for a similar protest could result in severe disciplinary action, underscoring tensions between student activism and district policy.
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In a climate where student activism can carry real consequences, Apopka High students stepped out of their classrooms Friday afternoon and into the public eye. During seventh period, they walked off campus and onto Martin Street to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), choosing to lend their voices to families affected by immigration enforcement despite warnings from district officials about attendance policies.
Related: Orange County Supervisor of Elections takes Bannon comment about ICE patrolling poll locations during midterms “very seriously”.
But for students who say immigration enforcement impacts people they know and love, silence was not an option.
On Friday afternoon, students exited campus during seventh period and assembled along Martin Street to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), joining a growing wave of youth-led demonstrations focused on immigration enforcement. Carrying handmade signs and chanting along the sidewalk near Park Avenue, participants remained off school property before returning to campus.
The demonstration was organized through a student-run social media account that made clear it was not affiliated with Apopka High School or Orange County Public Schools (OCPS). Organizers encouraged participants to remain peaceful, avoid blocking traffic, and stay off school grounds during the protest.
The walkout came a day after OCPS Board Member Melissa Byrd, whose district includes Apopka, addressed the planned demonstration.
“I’m glad our students have learned the value of peaceful protests in our American History and Civics classes,” Byrd said, “but I do wish they would stay in class to learn other valuable lessons.”
As students gathered along Martin Street, passing motorists signaled their support by honking.
Among those who came to stand with the students was Marsha Debrovsky, a longtime Florida resident who said the moment reminded her of her own youth.
“When I was a kid, I was brought up in the ’60s, and we protested the Vietnam War,” she said. “It was always peaceful, like our protests are here. I saw this, and I came up because I wanted to be supportive of the young adults.”
Debrovsky, whose father was a World War II veteran, said she was moved by the students’ willingness to speak out.
“We need everybody not to be complacent and passive,” she said. “I have a lot of feelings about people coming out and being supportive and making their voice heard. Seeing this is wonderful.”
Rene Gomez, the Civic Engagement Coordinator for the Farmworkers Association of Florida, echoed that sentiment, calling the student-led effort “inspiring.”
“This all came directly from the high school students at Apopka High School,” He said. “They organized, they did the outreach, and you got to see what the outlook is here. It looks very good for the city of Apopka and the immigrant community.”
Gomez said families impacted by immigration enforcement continue to feel pressure.
“The families that have been affected continue to get targeted — people going to work, people driving,” he said. “People are coming together, people are organizing, but people are still being terrorized.”
Gomez hopes the message elected officials take from the protest is simple.
“What bravery actually looks like,” he said. “People are scared for their jobs, but these kids are scared for their families. If the city and the elected officials at the county level can be as brave as these kids, I think the world’s going to look a lot better.”
The event unfolded as a similar anti-ICE walkout planned at West Orange High School in Winter Garden was canceled earlier in the week. According to reporting by Vox Populi, administrators at West Orange warned students that leaving class without authorization could result in serious disciplinary consequences, including possible expulsion under district policy. Organizers there called off the protest after the warning was issued, citing concerns about potential repercussions.
The contrasting outcomes at the two schools underscore the delicate balance districts face between protecting student expression and enforcing attendance policies amid a broader wave of demonstrations against immigration enforcement.
Friday’s walkout in Apopka was student-led and drew visible community support, reflecting how national immigration debates continue to resonate deeply within local neighborhoods and schools.
Key Points:
- The Apopka High walkout was organized through a student-run social media account and held off school property.
- Organizers encouraged peaceful participation and asked students to remain on sidewalks and avoid disrupting traffic.
- District officials confirmed the protest did not disrupt campus operations.
- A planned anti-ICE walkout at West Orange High School was canceled after administrators warned participants could face expulsion.
A few moments of Apopka High students protesting during the walkout, captured by video:
Video taken by Isabel LeCompte, Interning Photographer with The Apopka Voice
All photos were taken by Isabel LeCompte (@ISASBEL.LECOMPTE), Interning Photographer for The Apopka Voice.
