Oklahoma governor celebrates suspension of 122 students for Mustang walkout
Gov. Kevin Stitt applauded Mustang Public Schools on Wednesday for the Feb. 2 suspension of 122 students who participated in the anti-ICE strike. (Photo: Kyle Phillips/for Oklahoma Voice)
OKLAHOMA CITY — Gov. Kevin Stitt applauded an Oklahoma City-area school district for suspending 122 students who staged a strike against federal immigration enforcement tactics earlier this month.
“Young Oklahomans: Free speech is sacred, but skipping school robs you of your future. Stay in school, build skills, and make sure your voices are heard responsibly,” Stitt, a Republican, said on social media.
Mustang Public Schools confirmed Wednesday that it suspended students for unexcused absences during the strike and not because of the content of their speeches. High school students across the state, including in Mustang, walked out of class this month to stage protests against Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s controversial mass deportation efforts.
strikes He has faced criticism from some Republican lawmakersHe complained not only about students truancy but also that the demonstrations were “politically charged.” They called for the teaching licenses of educators who participated in the organization of the protests to be revoked.
State Superintendent Lindel Fields and Stitt’s education secretary, Dan Hamlin, said they found no evidence that school staff helped plan any of the demonstrations.
District leadership also said social media allegations that adults were involved in the Feb. 5 strike in Mustang were not found credible. The strike was student-led, and those involved were punished according to district policies.
In Mustang schools, truancy may be punished by detention, suspension or other consequences. district discipline manual.
“Student safety remains our top priority, and our decisions were made with that responsibility in mind,” the district said.
In a joint statement last week, Fields and Hamlin said students who leave the school campus without permission should be treated according to locally adopted policies. Educators present during on-campus demonstrations “are expected to maintain safety and order and not engage in political advocacy,” they said.
“Our state’s public schools are legally required to respect students’ constitutional rights to freedom of expression while also providing safe and orderly learning environments for all students,” Fields and Hamlin said.
