FORT WAYNE, Ind. — Last week, hundreds of students from South Side, North Side, and Northrop high schools walked out of class in a coordinated protest against Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations that have shaken families across the city.

Senior Jayla Pearson, one of the key organizers at South Side High School, never imagined she would help lead one of the largest student actions Fort Wayne has seen in years.

“We’re the generation that’s going to have to live with these policies the longest,” Pearson told 21Alive. “If we don’t speak now, who will?”

The walkouts happened Thursday, February 6, 2026, with students at all three schools leaving class at the same time. Many carried signs reading “Families Belong Together” and “Stop the Raids.”

At South Side, Pearson could not join the outdoor protest because of a scheduled college meeting. Instead, she helped turn fifth period into a school-wide sit-in.

“It felt like a pep rally, but for something that actually matters,” she said. Freshmen, sophomores, juniors, and seniors filled hallways and classrooms, sharing stories about friends and family members afraid to leave their homes.

Why Fort Wayne Students Felt They HadHad No Choice

Recent ICE activity in northeast Indiana has been intense. Federal agents conducted multiple workplace raids in January and early February, detaining dozens of people in Allen County alone.

Many students say they know someone directly affected.

One South Side junior, who asked to remain anonymous, said her uncle was detained while dropping her cousin off at daycare. “He’s lived here twenty years,” she said during the sit-in. “He pays taxes. This isn’t right.”

The timing of the protests also coincides with new federal directives that expanded ICE authority in so-called “sensitive locations,” including areas near schools. Parents have reported seeing unmarked vehicles parked near South Side and Northrop in recent weeks.

Not Everyone Agreed Students Should Protest

Some adults criticized the walkouts, saying teenagers are too young to understand complex immigration policy.

Pearson pushed back hard.

“The people making these laws already got to turn 18, already got to vote for the first time,” she said. “Most of us haven’t. So when they tell us we don’t get a say in what happens to our families and friends, that’s not fair.”

She also addressed the accusation that some students just wanted to skip class.

“Sure, a couple people probably did,” Pearson laughed. “But the majority? We were crying in those classrooms. This hits home.”

How the Schools Responded

Fort Wayne Community Schools confirmed that students who left class were marked absent but did not say whether additional punishment would follow.

District officials released a short statement: “We respect students’ rights to express their views peacefully. We are also responsible for their safety and education.”

Some teachers quietly showed support. At least two South Side staff members were seen handing out water bottles to students holding signs outside.

This Isn’t the First Time Fort Wayne Kids Stood Up

Fort Wayne has a history of student activism. In 2018, city high schoolers walked out after the Parkland shooting to demand gun reform. In 2020, thousands marched downtown for Black Lives Matter.

But longtime educators say this felt different.

“This one felt more personal,” said South Side social studies teacher Michael Ramirez, who has taught in the district for 17 years. “These kids aren’t protesting something happening somewhere else. They’re scared for their own families.”

The walkouts have already sparked conversation citywide. Community organizations have scheduled a town hall next week, and several students, including Pearson, have been invited to speak.

Pearson says she’s nervous but ready.

“If me talking about this helps even one family feel less alone, then it was worth it,” she said.

The message from Fort Wayne’s teenagers is clear: they refuse to be silent while their community hurts.

What do you think? Should high school students face consequences for walking out on issues that affect their lives? Drop your thoughts in the comments below, and if you’re sharing on social media, use #FortWayneStudentsSpeak so others can find your voice.