Brittany Kelley
Editor’s note: This story has been updated following print publication to include the arrest of Kyle resident Chad Michael Watts, 45, and the Texas Education Agency’s statement regarding walkouts, absences and educator and district responsibilities.
KYLE — The streets of Kyle and Buda were filled with backpacks, homemade signs, sounds of chants and determination, as more than 500 Hays CISD students participated in a staged walkout Monday, Feb. 2, in protest of Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE).
This comes after the conversation around ICE has begun gaining traction, following the alleged illegal detainment and mistreatment of both immigrants and United States citizens. As a result, thousands statewide — including students in Round Rock ISD, Edgewood ISD, New Braunfels ISD and more — and across the nation have participated in protests. Additionally, the deaths of Keith Porter Jr., Renée Good and Alex Pretti have sparked uproar, the latter of which was recently honored with a candlelight vigil by Kyle residents in Mary Kyle Hartson City Square Park Friday, Jan. 30.
These actions by ICE hit close to home for Hays County residents, as agents were spotted throughout the county in January, resulting in a detained individual being transported to the hospital Jan. 15, according to the Kyle Police Department.
The walkout was planned for several days prior to execution, with participants from Barton Middle School, Live Oak Academy, Hays High School, Lehman High School and Johnson High School students walking out of class at predetermined times throughout the afternoon.
Students of all high schools walked a combined total of more than 10 miles down the streets of Kyle and Buda to make their voices heard, escorted by law enforcement that regularly stopped traffic to ensure student safety.
“I’m doing this because nobody deserves to be afraid of their parents not being able to come home or getting home and their parents not being there. Nobody deserves to be taken unfairly,” said one student.
“I’m joining the protest because I’m a first generation Mexican-American and my parents fought to come to this country. They were both born in Mexico and they came to this country to give me a better life and my sisters a better life. This is why I’m speaking up for them, giving them the voice that they cannot give themselves,” explained another.
During the protests, the district sent out a statement, noting that skipping classes and leaving without permission is against the rules in Hays CISD. Furthermore, it shared that there are policies in place for campuses that can be used for non-school activities, many of which were violated. Students that chose to participate, the statement continued, received unexcused absences and face other potential disciplinary action.
The future consequences were unimportant to the protestors, with one emphasizing that the awareness and the ability to stand up for those who can’t speak for themselves takes priority: “It doesn’t matter in the big scheme of things; it’s a small thing to show solidarity.”
“If we don’t do anything, then what’s the point? We can't just stay silent forever,” another protester emphasized.
As students made their way to Kyle City Hall, they were joined by community members, parents and elected officials who showed up to support, such as Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra, Hays County commissioner Michelle Cohen and Kyle City Council member Claudia Zapata.
At city hall, KPD observed a minor in possession of alcohol, resulting in the arrest of two minors. One of which was charged with assault on a public servant, resisting arrest, interfering with public duties, consumption and possession of alcohol by a minor, while the second was charged with resisting arrest and interfering with public duties. The agency did note that the arrests were not related to the walkout.
Later, a male adult became involved in a physical altercation involving multiple JHS students at the intersection of FM 967 and FM 1626, according to the Buda Police Department.
Officers were dispatched to the scene, where they observed that an adult male in a vehicle and a female juvenile were in a verbal argument, which escalated into a physical altercation.
Buda Mayor Lee Urbanovsky stated that BPD identified the male and has collected a statement. It is now working with Hays CISD to collect witness statements and video evidence from students in attendance.
“This is an emotionally-charged and sensitive issue involving minors that has deeply impacted and rightfully concerned our community. I am urging the community to exercise patience and allow the Buda Police Department to complete their investigation,” said Urbanovsky.
According to a news release statement from Becerra Tuesday, Feb. 3, the altercation is now under investigation by the Hays County Criminal District Attorney’s Office.
“Hays County must remain a community defined by safety, accountability and respect for constitutional order and I remain committed to opposing any conduct that seeks to silence others through intimidation or violence,” said the county judge.
After press time Tuesday, Feb. 3, BPD announced the arrest of 45-year-old Chad Michael Watts, of Kyle, in relation to the physical assault on JHS students. The police department shared that further investigation determined Watts to be the primary aggressive, leading to two charges of assault causing bodily injury, a Class A misdemeanor.
In response to the walkouts, Gov. Greg Abbott shared a video of the Kyle arrests condemning the actions of students.
“It’s about time students like this were arrested. Harming someone is a crime — even for students. Disruptive walkouts allowed by the schools lead to just this kind of chaos. Schools and staff who allow this behavior should be treated as co-conspirators and should not be immune for criminal behavior," said Abbott. “We are also looking into stripping the funding of schools that abandon their duty to teach our kids the curriculum required by law.”
House Rep. Erin Zwiener rebutted that Abbott is "conveniently ignoring the most troubling incident that happened in Hays,” by focusing on the arrests, rather than the fight between the adult and juvenile.
“Instead of calling for justice against the grown man that assaulted a girl, Governor Abbott is celebrating the arrest of students and calling for the criminal investigation of schools and teachers. He is also threatening the funding of our school districts and spreading the lie that schools are inciting our kids to protest. This follows Governor Abbott ordering an investigation into Austin ISD after similar student-led protests,” said Zwiener.
The House representative is referring to Abbott’s earlier criticism Friday, Jan. 30, following students protesting at the state's capital, when he directed Mike Morath, commissioner of the Texas Education Agency (TEA), to investigate further into the situation.
As a result, TEA announced consequences for students, teachers and school districts in a news release Tuesday, Feb. 3, which stated:
- Students must be marked absent and schools risk losing daily attendance funding if they allow or encourage students to walk out of class
- Teachers that facilitate walkouts will be subject to investigation and sanction, including licensure revocation
- School systems that facilitate walkouts will be subject to investigation and sanction, including either the appointment of a monitor, conservator or board of managers
Simon Middle School students were conducting the sixth protest of the week Tuesday, Feb. 3.
“These are children. They don’t have many formal avenues to influence policy or power, yet they still showed up: thoughtful, organized and clear about the world they want to live in. We owe it to them to listen. Their voices matter and their perspective is often far less hardened than our own,” emphasized council member Zapata.
Hays CISD Superintendent Eric Wright released a statement imploring students to discontinue future protest plans, as there have allegedly been several more in the works.
He acknowledged their right to participate, but stressed that they will not be free from consequences; therefore, he is enacting the following: parents can sign their child out of school to participate, if they desire; students who have not been signed out will continue to receive absences; and disciplinary actions will be stacked, resulting in multiple, separate violations.
The superintendent also addressed a photo of a staff member circulating online displaying protest signs, revealing that he has been placed on administrative leave and “will not be returning to work in Hays CISD,” as “the school district belongs to everyone and we do not, as an entity or as employees, use taxpayer time and resources to engage in political activity.”
“We cannot control the rhetoric from people and politicians on both sides of the aisle and at all levels of government who are engaging in commentary and opinion. However, we, as a community, can control our actions – what we do next regarding these student walkouts,” said Wright. “We pride ourselves on navigating treacherous waters with grace and humility – and smart responses to challenges. While immigration policy is not in our control, it is in our power to resist division and strife. Let’s show everyone, by working together, that we can rise to this occasion and direct our energy appropriately.”
