Carly, left, and Johan, seniors at Central Bucks South High School, are pictured on Feb. 6, 2026 holding a sign across from North Penn High School where an anti-ICE walk out and protest took place. Rachel Ravina
Students at Central Bucks West and Central Bucks East are planning voluntary walkouts Monday morning, in protest of federal immigration enforcement actions.
Instagram pages titled “cbwest_against_ice” and “cbe_icewalkout” have circulated details over the weekend, calling on students to participate in what organizers describe as a “peaceful and respectful protest.”
At CB West, organizers said the walkout is scheduled for 11 a.m. At CB East, students are instructed to meet at 10:55 a.m. and walk out at 11 a.m., remaining outside through dismissal.
“Protesting ICE brings awareness to our community,” the CB West page states. “We can help make immigrant students feel heard and seen… Let’s remember this is a peaceful and respectful protest to raise awareness and build community within our high school and middle school.”
The CB East page calls participation “a respectable use of our First Amendment right to stand up for human rights,” adding: “Immigrants built this country, let’s show that we care for them!”
Organizers at both schools emphasized that the walkouts are voluntary and encouraged students not to engage with hecklers.
“This is a peaceful protest, do not engage with hecklers or people attempting to take away from the walkout. Be the bigger person,” the CB East page reads. Students were advised to bring signs, water, phones and friends, and were given instructions on where to gather and which doors to exit.
The CB East page notes the timing was selected to preserve partial attendance: “This ensures attendance for half of the day, so that people may attend after school activities.”
Central Bucks School District officials acknowledged the planned demonstrations in an email sent to families at CB East, CB West, Holicong and Lenape middle schools last week.
The district said it “won’t endorse a student walkout,” and that students and teachers are expected to remain in school during learning hours. However, officials noted they cannot physically prevent students from leaving. Students who walk out without authorization will receive an unexcused absence and may be ineligible to participate in after-school activities that day.
“We recognize that students hold a wide range of views and retain First Amendment rights while at school,” the district wrote. “At the same time, schools may enforce reasonable rules to prevent substantial disruption to the educational environment and to ensure the safety and well-being of students and staff.”
The district also said it has coordinated with local law enforcement to ensure safety and to keep nonstudents off school property. Buckingham Police are expected to provide additional security.
For many in the community, the walkouts come just over a week after a similar protest in Quakertown on Feb. 20 led to physical confrontations between students and police and the arrest of five students, who were jailed for four days before appearing before a judge.
As of 8:11 a.m. Monday, the walkouts at Central Bucks West and Central Bucks East were still scheduled to proceed late this morning.
Editor's note: This post removed a false claim from counter group Central Bucks Re-Engage
