Students at multiple Montgomery County high schools have participated in organized walkouts in recent weeks to express support for immigrant students and families and to protest federal immigration enforcement policies.
A walkout was held at Wheaton High School on February 3 and another at Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School today, February 4. In the past month, similar events have also taken place at Gaithersburg, Montgomery Blair, Walt Whitman, and Watkins Mill high schools.
At Bethesda-Chevy Chase High School, students gathered outside the school around 10 am before walking together toward East West Highway. Organizers promoted the event on social media, describing it as a peaceful, student-led action in solidarity with families affected by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies. Posts emphasized that participation was voluntary and encouraged students to remain respectful and nonviolent.
Online messages said the walkouts aimed to highlight fear and uncertainty within immigrant communities and to support classmates who may be impacted by immigration enforcement. Similar messaging was shared ahead of the events at Wheaton and Watkins Mill.
Participation estimates have not been confirmed by school officials, but students and observers reported that more than one hundred students took part at each location. No major disruptions or safety incidents were reported. Organizers at B-CC asked students to leave and return together and to follow safety guidelines.
Montgomery County Public Schools has not issued detailed statements on the individual events, but district policy generally allows peaceful student expression while maintaining attendance requirements. Supporters say the walkouts give students a voice on immigration issues affecting their communities, while others have raised concerns about missed class time. As student organizing continues, additional walkouts may take place in the coming weeks.