Students across multiple school districts in Central Texas organized walkouts on October 16, 2023, to protest the activities of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The demonstrations involved hundreds of students from Hays CISD, Manor ISD, Lockhart ISD, and Pflugerville ISD, leading to significant reactions from state officials, including investigations initiated by Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and directives from Governor Greg Abbott.
The walkouts occurred at various campuses, with reports indicating that students at five schools within Hays CISD—Hays High School, Live Oak Academy High School, Johnson High School, Lehman High School, and Barton Middle School—actively participated. Additionally, students in Manor ISD and Lockhart ISD joined in, with demonstrations at Lockhart High School and all five high schools in Pflugerville ISD. The protests were not sanctioned by school authorities, and students who participated were marked absent and subject to potential disciplinary actions.
In response to the protests, Attorney General Ken Paxton initiated an investigation into Austin ISD, requesting documents related to campus departure policies and internal communications. This investigation follows an order from Governor Greg Abbott, who instructed the state education commissioner to examine the situation, asserting that public funds are designated for state-mandated education, not for student protests.
School officials expressed concern regarding the unsanctioned nature of the walkouts. In a letter to parents, Michael Herbin, principal of Lockhart High School, detailed how students left campus around 1:10 p.m. and marched along Highway 183 toward downtown Lockhart. Law enforcement agencies, including the Caldwell County Constables and the Lockhart Police Department, monitored the situation to ensure safety.
Meanwhile, Pflugerville ISD reported that the majority of students who left campus gathered near the Pflugerville Justice Center, prompting the district to advise parents to contact their children for transportation arrangements. Hays CISD, in its statement, emphasized the importance of the situation as a learning opportunity for students to understand their rights, freedoms, and the accompanying responsibilities, regardless of their views on the issue.
These protests unfolded against a backdrop of other incidents in the Austin area. On the same day as the student demonstrations, Austin police responded to a barricaded suspect following a domestic disturbance, which began early in the morning. Additionally, a cyclist tragically lost their life after being struck by a vehicle on State Highway 71, and a pedestrian fatality was reported in downtown Austin. The Austin Fire Department also dealt with a two-alarm fire at an abandoned apartment complex.
The events of October 16 highlight not only the students’ engagement with pressing social issues but also the broader public safety concerns impacting the Central Texas region. As investigations continue, the implications of these protests and the responses from state officials will be closely watched by the community and beyond.
