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Pottstown Today
By the People, for the People
Pottstown HS Students Stage Anti-ICE 'Walk Out'
Large groups of high school students took to the streets to protest ICE activity in Montgomery County.
Published on Feb. 22, 2026
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A large number of Pottstown High School students walked out of school on Wednesday afternoon in protest of ICE enforcement activities around the region. Students marched through town, driving cars and carrying flags, banners, and signs while chanting "ICE out." Unlike other local school districts, Pottstown's administration provided adult chaperones and worked with the police to ensure the protest was completed safely, though they neither promoted nor discouraged the event.
Why it matters
The protest follows a surge of ICE activity in Montgomery County, sparking responses from local police departments and the district attorney's office about the limits of their cooperation with federal immigration authorities. Student activism against ICE has been on the rise in the region, with similar walkouts occurring at nearby high schools.
The details
Students walked out at 11:30 a.m. and took to the streets on a predetermined route through town, driving cars and marching on sidewalks with flags, banners, and signs. Participants honked horns, cheered, and chanted "ICE out." Pottstown Superintendent Stephen Rodriguez said the district "neither promoted nor discouraged" the event, but provided adult chaperones as a security precaution and worked with the Pottstown Police Department to ensure the protest was completed without issue.
- The protest occurred on Wednesday, February 18, 2026.
- Similar protests have taken place at nearby high schools in the past week.
The players
Pottstown High School
A public high school located in Pottstown, Pennsylvania.
Stephen Rodriguez
The superintendent of the Pottstown School District.
Pottstown Police Department
The local law enforcement agency that worked with the school district to ensure the protest was completed safely.
Montgomery County
The county in Pennsylvania where Pottstown is located, which has seen a surge of ICE activity recently.
What they’re saying
“Since the Supreme Court decision of Tinker v. Des Moines, the law has clearly established that students may participate in free speech and demonstrations, but may not disrupt the school environment.”
— Stephen Rodriguez, Pottstown Superintendent (Patch.com)
“Although this occurred during the school day, it was neither promoted nor discouraged by school officials, and occurred off school property. We had nothing to do with the organization or planning of the event.”
— Stephen Rodriguez, Pottstown Superintendent (Patch.com)
“Our primary concern is the safety and well-being of all of our students.”
— Stephen Rodriguez, Pottstown Superintendent (Patch.com)
What’s next
The protest comes after a surge of ICE activity in Montgomery County, and it remains to be seen if similar student-led demonstrations will continue in the region.
The takeaway
This student-led protest highlights the growing activism against ICE enforcement in the local community, with Pottstown High School taking a more cooperative approach compared to other districts that have condemned or penalized student walkouts.
