Frederick Douglass High students join walkouts protesting ICE activity as FCPS outlines safety plans

LEXINGTON, Ky. (ABC36 NEWS NOW) — Students at Frederick Douglass High School joined classmates across Fayette County Friday and earlier this week in student-led walkouts tied to concerns about recent immigration enforcement activity involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Signs carried by many of the approximately 100 students and guidance letters sent to families indicate participants were protesting ICE-related actions and policies, prompting Fayette County Public Schools to prepare campuses for demonstrations while keeping a focus on safety and instruction.

In a statement we received, the district said staff worked directly with students and families to support peaceful expression.

“This week, FCPS students participated in student-led walkouts to express their perspectives on current events,” the district said. “School staff worked directly with students and families to first ensure their safety and second to foster an environment where students felt empowered to engage with the world around them.”

District guidance ahead of walkouts

Letters sent to families ahead of the demonstrations outlined how schools would respond if students chose to leave class. According to district guidance, walkouts were not school-sponsored events, and leaving class without permission could be considered an unexcused absence — even as officials acknowledged students’ First Amendment rights.

Administrators were instructed to remain neutral on the issues being protested, apply discipline consistently, and prioritize supervision so demonstrations remained safe.

School leaders also communicated directly with families at campuses where walkouts were expected, including Frederick Douglass High School, to keep parents informed throughout the day.