Los Angeles Teacher Fired After Helping Students During Protests

Ricardo Lopez says he was trying to prevent injuries, but school says he violated safety protocols.

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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A Los Angeles teacher named Ricardo Lopez was fired from Synergy Quantum Academy after he opened a locked gate to allow students to join anti-ICE protests happening in the area. Lopez said he was trying to prevent students from hurting themselves by climbing over the fence, but the school administration fired him for insubordination and escorted him off campus. The school says it was following safety protocols by supervising students during the protests.

Why it matters

This incident highlights the tensions between schools trying to maintain order and safety during student protests, and teachers who feel compelled to prioritize student wellbeing even if it means defying school policies. It raises questions about the appropriate balance between campus security and allowing students to exercise their right to protest.

The details

Ricardo Lopez, a former AP U.S. History and U.S. History teacher, said he opened the locked gate after seeing students trying to climb over it and hurt themselves the previous day. He claims he was only trying to create a safe space and protect his students, not encourage them to leave campus. However, the school administration fired him within an hour for insubordination and escorted him off campus, which Lopez described as "very unfair" and "very unjust." The school says it was following Los Angeles Unified School District access and safety protocols by supervising students during the protests.

  • On Thursday, students were trying to climb over a locked fence to join the anti-ICE protests.
  • The day before, Lopez had seen students hurting themselves trying to climb over the gate.

The players

Ricardo Lopez

A former AP U.S. History and U.S. History teacher at Synergy Quantum Academy who was fired for opening a locked gate to allow students to join anti-ICE protests.

Synergy Quantum Academy

The Los Angeles high school that fired Ricardo Lopez for violating campus safety protocols during student protests.

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What they’re saying

“My number one priority as an educator is to create a safe space and try to protect my students. In that moment, I just tried to protect them.”

— Ricardo Lopez, Former Teacher (cbsnews.com)

“Decisions about whether students may leave campus during the school day are made solely by school administration, according to campus safety protocols.”

— Synergy Quantum Academy (cbsnews.com)

What’s next

Lopez said he wants to get his job back and continue teaching and supporting his students. Community groups have started a petition calling for his reinstatement.

The takeaway

This case highlights the difficult balance schools must strike between maintaining campus safety and security, and allowing students to exercise their right to protest. It raises questions about how far teachers should go to protect student wellbeing, even if it means defying school policies.