KANNAPOLIS Approximately 75 A. L. Brown High School students walked out of class around noon on Friday to protest the presence of Immigration Customs Enforcement and Border Patrol agents in the Charlotte region. According to Kannapolis Communications Director Annette Keller, they were in the downtown area from noon to 3 p. m. “When school administrators and police officers were made aware of this walkout and that students were in the downtown area, they were dispatched to downtown to ensure everyone’s safety,” Keller said in an email. Keller noted that the majority of those students were peaceful in their expressions of protest however there were three driving citations issued and one arrest made. A student, Emily Cervantes Ramos, 18, of Kannapolis was charged with assault on a government official and resisting police officers. There were no injuries, no weapons and no property damage reportedly connected to Friday’s activities. “We believe in every individual’s first amendment rights but if any person’s actions become illegal in situations such as these, we have no choice but to take appropriate action in order to protect the people and property of our city,” said Police Chief Terry Spry. A spokesperson for Kannapolis City Schools, Finance Officer & District Communications Director Ashley Forrest confirmed in an email that the students left campus to participate in the protest. “While students are not permitted to engage in protests on campus during instructional time due to safety concerns and disruption to learning, we understand it is their right to engage in demonstrations of this nature off campus,” Forrest said. “Those who chose to leave were marked absent. District and school administrators, along with Kannapolis Police Department, were on hand in the downtown area to help ensure student safety and to encourage students to share their message in a calm and respectful manner. Normal school operations continued without interruption.” Forrest indicated that earlier in the week, students were provided an opportunity to speak with the administration during the school day about those concerns and that administration had also met with leaders of student-led clubs to discuss avenues for expression and support moving forward. “Students who would like to speak with the A. L. Brown High School administration about their personal concerns should reference their student email on signing up for meeting with the administrative team,” Forrest said.
https://www.salisburypost.com/2025/11/22/a-l-brown-students-lead-ice-related-walkout/
