Muncie students stage ICE protest walkout

Around 40 students from Burris Laboratory School and Indiana Academy marched to protest U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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A second wave of high schoolers in Muncie followed in the footsteps of a nationwide movement, protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Around 40 students from Burris Laboratory School and Indiana Academy walked out of class on February 17 and marched to the intersection of W Riverside Avenue and N McKinley Avenue, chanting and holding signs to voice their opposition to ICE.

Why it matters

This student-organized protest is part of a broader nationwide movement among high schoolers to speak out against ICE and immigration policies, reflecting growing political activism among young people on social justice issues.

The details

The protest lasted around 30 minutes, with the students marching through the center of the Quad. Junior Julia Rogers led the crowd in chants and movement, encouraging her peers to use their voices to make a difference. Some Ball State University students also showed up to support the high schoolers.

  • The protest took place on February 17, 2026.

The players

Julia Rogers

An Indiana Academy junior who led the crowd in chants and movement during the protest.

Juno Velez

A Ball State University freshman who showed up to support the high school protesters.

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What they’re saying

“We are in a country, in a world where your voice has power. Even if you think that the timing is wrong [or] that it's performative, no matter what, protesting is and will always be something that is important.”

— Julia Rogers, Indiana Academy Junior (indianapublicradio.org)

“I'm asked all the time, 'Why do you keep fighting if there's such a big threat?' It's because I'm not going to let that threat pass on to their generation. I'm not going to let that anger, that fear, that terrifying feeling of being oppressed, taken away, or hurt lead [these high schoolers] because they deserve better than that.”

— Juno Velez, Ball State University Freshman (indianapublicradio.org)

What’s next

The protest organizers plan to continue advocating for immigration reform and speaking out against ICE policies through additional student-led demonstrations and activism.

The takeaway

This student-led protest in Muncie reflects a growing trend of high schoolers across the country using their voices to take a stand on important social and political issues, demonstrating the power of youth activism in driving change.