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(DAILYWIRE) – A high school principal in Spring Township, Pennsylvania, is drawing national attention after a viral video showed him confronting dozens of students who walked out of class to protest federal immigration policies.
In a tense exchange on Thursday captured on camera, Daniel Weber of Wilson High School told the group that while they have the right to their opinions, those rights do not grant them the authority to bypass school safety protocols or skip class.
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The incident began when roughly 60 students left the building without authorization to stage a demonstration against Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). The walkout followed a series of discussions between students and the Wilson School District about a possible sanctioned protest. Although administrators had considered approving the event, the district eventually canceled it after being told the student-led demonstration was no longer planned.
When students decided to proceed with the walkout anyway, Weber met them outside, where several were seen carrying Mexican flags.
“If you go back to class, then we’re good. If you stay out here, we will get your names, and you will be suspended. Okay?” Weber stated. “That is your option at this point, because you are operating outside the bounds of what was granted. That event was canceled. You left school without permission. Your rights do not supersede the school. So if you understand that, that is your option. If you wish to return, Dr. Damiani will let you in that door over there. If not, I will be getting your names; you will be suspended. Okay? Those are your options. All right? Your rights do not exceed that of the school.”
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Wilson School District clarified that the discipline was not a reaction to the students’ political viewpoints, but rather a matter of safety and procedure, stating:
The walkout occurred after the District was informed that a student-led demonstration was not planned, which limited our ability to plan for student supervision and safety. When students left their classrooms and the school building without authorization, staff accompanied them simply to ensure student safety and order. Students were not, and are not, disciplined for expressing their viewpoints. Any consequences associated with this situation are based solely on violations of established school procedures, including leaving class or the building without permission and failing to follow staff directions.
The incident at Wilson High School comes amid a broader wave of student-led anti-ICE protests across the country, including recent mass walkouts in the Chicago suburbs.
“Students from Downers Grove North and Downers Grove South High Schools left their schools around 12:45 p.m. and converged near the downtown train station, chanting ‘ICE out and carrying signs calling for change. Hundreds of students from schools in northwest suburban Carpentersville also walked out of class to protest ICE operations,” NBC Chicago reported.
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This article was originally published in The DailyWire.
