Planning a School Walkout

Walkouts are just one form of protest or civil disobedience (sit-ins, marches, rallies, strikes, etc). The goal of a walkout is to raise awareness of a specific cause, show solidarity, and create enthusiasm or an on-ramp to become more engaged. A walkout should be followed up with additional actions.

1. Define the purpose of the walkout
   1. Solidarity for MN?
   2. Attack on Constitutional Rights?
   3. Teargasing of students and teachers at Roosevelt High School?
2. Do you have a demand?
   1. Do you want the school/administration to do something? Like make a statement denouncing ICE actions in MN, etc
   2. Document the demand(s), you will need them later
3. What day/time makes sense?
   1. There will never be an absolutely perfect time, so don’t delay. You pick a time and stick with it. Sticking with the date/time will decrease the likelihood of confusion later.
   2. Do not pick the very beginning or end of the day. The power is in leaving together, staying with each other, being in community together. It is NOT about leaving school early.
4. Create a simple slogan to help promote the walkout, examples:
   1. ICE OUT. WALKOUT.
   2. WALKOUT ON ICE.
   3. ENOUGH IS ENOUGH

1. Create a Walkout Plan
   1. Decide where you are walking to, ensuring a safe and accessible route for students
   2. How long will you be gone? 15-20 minutes is typical.
   3. What will happen when you arrive at your meeting spot?
   4. This does not have to be an elaborate plan, just a rough idea.

1. Tell everyone you know.
2. Students on the student gov/council
3. Connect with ally groups at school and/or the community
4. Spread on social media.
5. Use printed handouts that you can hand to friends and fellow students, leave on tables, slap on walls, lockers, doors, etc. (There may be school policies about posting materials) Saline Indivisible Flyer Example
6. Hand out buttons or pins to spread the word, promote the walkout, or reward those who make it out the door.
7. Email the principal and Superintendent.
   1. You are asking for their support (not their approval) in your advocacy efforts, providing a heads-up for planning purposes, and letting them know your expectations.
   2. You will share with them, in a simple email plan and the demands that you documented earlier.
8. Email local news outlets (Saline Summit, Sun Time News, school news?)

It really does depend and is up to you. You can chant. You can do speeches. You can just hang out and meet people in your community who share your values. You could add those folks on social so that you can organize more easily the next time. The power is in being together.

Civil Rights leader and former U.S. congressman John Lewis would call this “Good Trouble.” The school cannot punish students more harshly than for any other class absence. If your walkout occurs over two class periods, you can expect two unexcused absences. See the ALCU resource below for more information.

Resources: Gun Violence toolkit, ACLU Walkout Guide, Saline Indivisible