Students started walking from Lubbock’s Estacado High School on Thursday afternoon, making their way down Martin Luther King, Jr. Blvd.
Students said the protest started in reaction to actions by Immigration and Customs Enforcement around the country.
“The reason I came out is because I'm a daughter of immigrants. Both of my parents are immigrants,” one student said. “And it breaks my heart, because why are we separating families?”
After Austin students walking out at the end of January were accompanied by vehicles from Austin ISD Police, Gov. Greg Abbott posted on social media that he was calling on the education commissioner to investigate.
Days later, the Texas Education Agency issued guidance saying that schools could risk funding and teachers could lose certification if they “allow or encourage” students to participate in protests. But that didn’t stop Lubbock students.
“The governor tried to shut us up by putting all this stuff on [social media], but we still decided to come,” another student added.
I have directed the Education Commissioner to investigate this.
— Greg Abbott (@GregAbbott_TX) January 31, 2026
AISD gets taxpayer dollars to teach the subjects required by the state, not to help students skip school to protest.
Our schools are for educating our children, not political indoctrination.
This is one of many… https://t.co/lhymqT0d2B
Estacado students were quickly joined in their march by students from the Margaret Talkington School for Young Women Leaders.
“Even though we're kids, we still have a voice,” one Talkington student said. “We still have a voice, we can still speak our opinion, and I am against ICE.”
Lubbock ISD Superintendent Dr. Kathy Rollo issued a letter to parents this week, echoing the warning from the TEA. Some students said they were told they could risk being expelled or suspended for participating, but many quickly added that it would be worth it.
“I think this whole thing is worth it,” one student noted. “I think we just need to open our eyes and realize that immigrants bought what we've got right now.”
The group of about 30 students were also followed by a number of parents who said they were grateful to see Lubbock ISD police close by. Patrick Byrne said he followed to make sure his daughter was safe and got to speak freely.
“I know that if we're going by the school handbook, it says that all this is an unexcused absence,” Byrne said. “I think that threatening like that is nothing but fear-mongering tactics, and I think that does nothing but embolden the students to want to speak out.”
Byrne added that he’s proud of his daughter and the other students for doing what they believe in, despite adversity.
“They came out here, they were able to do it safely,” Byrne said. “They're out there with smiles on their faces knowing that what they're doing is right, and just.”
