Oklahoma Lawmakers Demand Crackdown on Student Protests

Legislators call for disciplinary action against students and teachers involved in walkouts against ICE

Published on Feb. 12, 2026

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Oklahoma legislators are calling on the state superintendent to enforce disciplinary actions against students who have participated in protests against ICE, as well as investigate teachers who may have been involved in promoting or facilitating the walkouts. The lawmakers have sent a letter expressing concerns about public safety and claiming the protests are disrupting student learning, despite statements from school districts that they did not sponsor or encourage the demonstrations.

Why it matters

The student protests have drawn the attention of state lawmakers, who are seeking to crack down on the demonstrations through disciplinary measures against both students and teachers. This raises concerns about free speech rights and the ability of young people to exercise their civic engagement, as well as questions about the appropriate role of state officials in local school matters.

The details

Several Republican state senators, including Tom Woods, Julie McIntosh, and Brian Guthrie, have signed a letter calling on the Oklahoma State Superintendent to take action. They want the superintendent to enforce disciplinary measures against students who have participated in the protests, as well as investigate teachers who may have been involved in promoting or facilitating the walkouts. The lawmakers claim the protests are disrupting student learning and raising public safety concerns, despite statements from school districts that they did not sponsor or encourage the demonstrations.

  • The letter from state lawmakers was sent on February 13, 2026.

The players

Tom Woods

Republican state senator from Westville, Oklahoma.

Julie McIntosh

Republican state senator from Porter, Oklahoma.

Lonnie Paxton

Republican state senator and Senate Pro Tempore from Tuttle, Oklahoma.

Brian Guthrie

Republican state senator from Bixby, Oklahoma.

Oklahoma State Department of Education

The state agency responsible for overseeing public education in Oklahoma.

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What they’re saying

“It's absolutely your constitutional right to let your voice be heard. The contents of this letter is about public safety.”

— Tom Woods, State Senator (KFOR)

“This has nothing to do with the topic of the protests.”

— Julie McIntosh, State Senator (KFOR)

“I believe that letter that was sent out had some inaccuracies in it. The gist of the letter I can support: students should be in school.”

— Lonnie Paxton, State Senator and Senate Pro Tempore (KFOR)

“If the teachers are involved in helping these kids protest and supplying materials or using the school time to do that, then there should be disciplinary action taken.”

— Brian Guthrie, State Senator (KFOR)

“I trust our educators that are managing the disruption and fear caused by ICE enforcement actions. Once again, we see selective outrage from Republicans as they cherry-pick issues happening in our public schools.”

— Julia Kirt, Senate Democratic Leader (KFOR)

What’s next

The Oklahoma State Department of Education has stated that local school districts will handle any disciplinary actions for students or teachers involved in the protests, rather than the state taking direct action.

The takeaway

This situation highlights the ongoing tensions between student activism, free speech rights, and the role of state officials in local education matters. While lawmakers are seeking to crack down on the protests, educators and Democratic lawmakers have pushed back, arguing that students should be able to exercise their civic engagement and that teachers should not be targeted for supporting them.