After about 150 students walked out of Redlands schools earlier this month in support of immigrants they faced an unexpected result: a temporary suspension of school privileges as administrators imposed rules barring them from leaving class without permission.
The punishment — losing access to sports, dances, concerts and other school events — in a school system with a majority governing board stands in stark contrast to the positive reception student activism has received in other California school systems, including the Los Angeles Unified School District.
The separate actions show that school officials in all states and school systems — in blue and red districts — have been facing a wave of student walkouts that began in late January as part of national protests over the Trump administration’s crackdown.
Redlands school officials said the suspension will continue until the student meets certain criteria, such as attending Saturday school or doing four hours of community service.
“The superintendent’s message is consistent: We care deeply about our students, and we recognize that many young people are dealing with issues they see in the news and in their community,” said district public information officer Christine Stephens. “Students have the right to express themselves in peace. At the same time, the district must honor its responsibility to maintain a safe, supervised learning environment during the school day.”
Districts that have expressed support for students’ free speech rights include those in San Francisco and Sacramento. In Palo Alto, district officials worked with schools to ensure students could make their designated trips safely.
LA Unified officials haven’t imposed statewide fines for jaywalking — and its leaders have sided with students’ anti-ICE criticism. Supt. Alberto Carvalho, himself an immigrant, has promised to do everything in the district to keep schools safe for children of immigrant families – and activists are hanging around outside schools to help make sure parents and students get to school safely.
At the same time, LAUSD teachers encouraged students to stay on campus for safety reasons. In LA there were reports of physical clashes between officials and protesters after students walked out on Feb. 5 and on Feb. 13, where federal agents were injured after others in the crowd threw objects at them.
State and education leaders in Texas and Florida have revealed significant results for students and teachers related to student mobility. In Texas, state leaders have talked about possible suspensions and expulsions, teacher layoffs and school district takeovers.
The ACLU of Georgia sent a letter Jan. 29 expressing concern at the Cobb County School District after it threatened suspensions, loss of parking and off-campus privileges and warned of college admissions consequences for participating in the walkout.
The ACLU warned that the school system would be operating unconstitutionally if out-of-town participants were singled out, especially with harsh treatment based on their opinions.
Young activists
High school student activists – in Redlands and elsewhere – said they are willing to face the consequences, if necessary, to stand up for what they believe in by opposing the actions of US Immigration and Customs Enforcement.
“As organizers, we are expected to get revenge the first time,” said Redlands High School senior Jax Hardy. “Therefore, although we can be very disappointed in the region for doing something like this, for us, it is important that we use our rights to speak freely to oppose the government that tramples on our rights.”
Student leaders see their protests as a social lesson in action.
“It’s important to take action, because, if we don’t, who knows how things will move forward,” said Redlands High junior Aya F, who uses her last name instead of her legal full name. “That’s why we think it’s important to organize this game.”
Redlands is about 60 miles east of downtown LA and enrolls about 20,000 students. In November 2024 a consecutive majority was elected to the five-member Redlands Board of Education, integrating the board with key policies of the Trump administration. Redlands joined a number of California boards of common sense in approving policies that would allow parents to challenge library books for sexual content and ban the display of the rainbow pride flag, which is associated with the LGBTQ+ community.
But the district said its action on the move lacked a coherent vision.
“The district’s response is not based on the opinion, context or content of the student’s speech,” Stephens said.
Students come out even though they have been punished
Some Redlands students have planned another walkout for Friday, and organizers say they expect representation from seven middle and high schools. Many came from Redlands High School. They carried “Stop ICE” signs and Mexican flags and blew whistles as they made the 15-minute walk to a downtown intersection some call the “Corner of Peace.”
“I’ve never seen so many people in Redlands doing anything,” said sophomore James Bojado, who also said that, on several days, administrators tried to stop students by threatening them.
Dozens of Redlands police cars were driving around the convention center, passing slowly.
A man wearing a sun hat shouted: “Why don’t you raise the American flag, are you ashamed of America?”
“Stop it!” answered the chorus.
“My mom and dad are immigrants,” said sophomore Carmen Robles. “Why are families who care about America deported back to where they came from?”
At the rally, the students’ demands included an ironclad commitment from the district that ICE would not be allowed on campus. Students also called for an end to ICE and spoke out for the school board to rescind what they consider to be anti-LGBTQ+ policies. This includes the flag ban and book restriction policy.
At Friday’s meeting in Redlands, there were a few tense minutes when a student wearing a MAGA hat was hit with water bottles. The student spoke to the police but he also said he was not injured.
A MAGA hat wearer gets water and pizza thrown at him during a student walkout and protest in Redlands.
(Gina Ferazzi/Los Angeles Times)
Senior volunteers were there with the goal of keeping things safe and beautiful. Parent Toni Belcher said students have the right to be heard.
“I’m happy to see all these kids trying to make their voice count,” Belcher said. “If it doesn’t do it now, it will. … They start early.”
What is the law?
Students’ right to self-expression begins with the US Constitution.
“You don’t lose your right to free speech just by going to school,” according to the American Civil Liberties Union. “You have the right to speak out, hand out flyers and petitions and wear clothing that stands out to school — as long as you don’t disrupt school operations or violate the school’s content neutrality policies.”
However, going outside may be considered a nuisance. But greater punishment will not be applied based on the nature of the views expressed.
Redlands Unified believes it is in compliance with that legal standard.
California law provides additional protections for student protests, but is not limited.
The California law, which went into effect in 2023, allows a middle school or high school student to miss one day of school as an excused absence for “a public or political event.” This includes, but is not limited to, “voting, polling, polling, strikes, public comment, candidate speeches, political or public forums and town halls.”
The author of this bill, Senindela of the region at that time, Connie Leyva, said at the time that the law “emphasizes the importance of making students more involved in the government and in their community by prioritizing opportunities for students to learn in the community and to discuss within and outside of their education.”
Another caveat is that the law requires “the student to notify the school prior to his absence.”
Students who exercise this right should be allowed to make up missed homework without penalty. There are some gray areas – such as school trips of large distances – which organizers intend to please – can fall outside this protection because students are not legally tested, for example.
One Redlands parent said she informed the school that her son had permission to be part of the previous trip after to walk. But his son is still being punished because, the parent said, he was not allowed to give his son permission.
State law requires advance notice, but does not state that parental consent is required for that one day of protected public activity per year. The law also states that schools, at their discretion, may allow additional excused absences for community participation.
The parent, who did not want to be named because he wanted revenge, said his son was put on the “No-Go List” when it comes to extracurricular activities and events.
