The principal at an Ocala high school where students led a protest against ICE says her staff immediately ended the demonstration after “students began throwing food” and created safety concerns, with multiple individuals receiving “disciplinary consequences” as a result.
Last week, Ocala-News.com received additional details from the Marion County School District regarding a protest that occurred at West Port High School (WPHS) on February 6.
During that protest, a large gathering of students marched through the school, chanting statements against the policies of President Donald J. Trump and United States Customs and Immigration Enforcement.
West Port High School is located at 3733 SW 80th Avenue, in southwest Ocala.
In video of the protest shared with Ocala-News.com, students can be heard chanting “F*** ICE” as they walk through various portions of the school.
Ocala-News.com sent several questions to Marion County Public Schools and leadership at WPHS about the protest.
On February 13, WPHS Principal Ginger Cruze responded to the email inquiry, detailing the full extent of what occurred during the event.
Cruze says that students “did not walk out of class, leave campus, disrupt school operations, or delay classes” and that there were multiple areas in the school where students could “avoid the protest if they so chose.”
Cruze says that although some students brought signs containing profanity to the protest, those signs were immediately removed by staff.
She goes on to state that at one point “during the protest, several students began throwing food.”
Cruze did not clarify which students (i.e., the protestors or those watching them) began throwing the food. She indicated that staff immediately stopped the protest thereafter and that “several students received disciplinary consequences in accordance” with the district’s policy.
This is the full statement from Cruze:
“On Friday, February 6, 2026, students peacefully protested at West Port High School in the courtyard during ALPHA Time. ALPHA Time is our daily 50-minute period in which students use 25 minutes for lunch and 25 minutes for school-related activities. In 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court ruled that students generally have First Amendment rights to protest while at school, provided they follow school rules and do not materially disrupt the school day. During Friday’s protest, students did not walk out of class, leave campus, disrupt school operations, or delay classes. There were also many areas of the school where students could avoid the protest if they so chose. Staff members and School Resource Officers (SROs) were on duty during ALPHA Time. Some students brought signs containing profanity to the protest, and those signs were removed by staff. At one point during the protest, several students began throwing food. For the safety of everyone on campus, staff immediately ended the protest and terminated ALPHA Time. As a result of specific student actions, several students received disciplinary consequences in accordance with Marion County Public Schools’ Code of Student Conduct. No one was injured during the protest, including students, staff, SROs, nor administrators. Student and staff safety are always our top priority.”
A previous account of the protest provided to Ocala-News.com stated that the demonstration began on the west side of the school building and moved into the hallways before turning toward the cafeteria and the east side of campus.
As the protest progressed, at least three students who were present at the school reported to Ocala-News.com that they witnessed other students leave school grounds and toss items (including food) at law enforcement, staff, and other participants.
A similar protest is scheduled for this weekend, as organizers of the “No Kings” protests host another demonstration at the Historic Downtown Square in Ocala. That event will take place on Saturday, February 21, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Did you attend the protest at West Port High School or another high school in your area? Share your experiences and news of upcoming events by contacting us.