SAN ANTONIO, Texas
Officials from the San Antonio Independent School District are alerting parents about a planned school strike on Tuesday, October 7th, during school hours. In a letter sent to the caregivers of Fox Tech High School students, they mentioned credible reports of armed protests from local law enforcement.
The letter, addressed to parents on Thursday, emphasizes amplifying students’ voices and highlights the significance of exercising their rights to address issues that matter to them. Although it does not clearly state the reasons for the protest, students previously participated in a pro-Palestinian strike last school year.
Following a statement supporting students’ rights to “advocate for issues they care about,” it goes on to say that any information regarding students planning to protest will be shared with local law enforcement on October 7th.
Principal Jaime Aquino and other high-ranking officials made it clear in their communication that the district would not intervene regarding the protest’s subject matter. The letter doesn’t clarify whether warnings about armed participants pertain to students or community members.
As for the protest organizers, the San Antonio Independent School District has not disclosed their identities. The district is coordinating with the Southwest Texas Fusion Center, a multi-agency law enforcement intelligence group, to keep an eye on developments as the second anniversary of the Hamas attack on Israel draws near.
The district urged parents to discourage their children from participating in the demonstrations. Given the potential for protesters to carry firearms, the letter cautioned that school staff are not designated to ensure student safety during such events. Local law enforcement will be monitoring the protests planned at Fox Tech High School’s downtown campus.
The letter also indicated that any students who leave the campus to join the protest might face disciplinary actions as defined in the student code of conduct and campus organization policies.
Last May, students at Fox Tech organized a strike at the end of the school year in support of the Palestinian cause. According to a local news report, around 80 students were involved, setting up temporary monuments and calling for an end to U.S. aid to Israel.
Reports suggest that pro-Palestinian and anti-ICE protests in the downtown Alamo area are being organized by the Party for Socialism and Liberation, with some San Antonio Independent School District teachers among the participants.
