OLATHE — The community of Olathe is on alert after a melee Friday at a student confrontation over ICE policy, with one juvenile arrested for assault and word circulating of another protest set for tomorrow.
A student-organized protest outside Olathe Northwest High School Friday escalated into a physical altercation that left multiple students injured and resulted in the arrest of a teenage male on aggravated battery charges, according to police and local media reports.
The Olathe Police Department responded to reports of a fight at approximately 2:07 p.m. in the area of College Boulevard and South Lone Elm Road, near the school campus. Officers were dispatched after reports that a protest had “escalated into a physical disturbance,” and multiple officers were required to stabilize the scene, police said in a Feb. 23 news release. One juvenile male was taken into custody, and investigators are continuing to identify others who may have been involved, according to the department.
Olathe Police emphasized in their release that they support the right to peaceful protest and lawful assembly, but stated that “violence, property damage, or threats to people will be addressed appropriately to protect the community.”
According to reporting by KSHB 41 News and KCTV5 News, the walkout was organized by a group of students protesting U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) operations. Students left campus during the school day and gathered across the street from the school.
Those same reports indicate that a second group of students was present nearby, some holding flags and symbols in support of former President Donald Trump. The confrontation reportedly began when members of the walkout protest engaged conservative activists across Lone Elm Road.
Video footage described by witnesses and referenced in coverage by KSHB showed students on both sides engaging in a physical fight after the groups converged.
Video shows anti-ICE student protestors attacking student conservatives near Olathe North High School
At least four students were reported injured during the incident, according to KSHB 41 News. The station reported that videos of the fight circulated widely on social media before some individuals requested the footage not be shared further because it involved minors.
In interviews with KSHB, one parent said his son and a friend were struck with flag poles during the altercation. The father told the station that his son’s vehicle was also damaged but that neither student required hospitalization.
School District Response
Officials with Olathe Public Schools clarified, in statements reported by KCTV5, that the walkout and demonstration were student-led and not organized or endorsed by the district. Numerous social media comments reportedly from parents have taken issue with that assertion, particularly after a social media post reportedly made by an Olathe school district official’s spouse advised the public of an ICE operation in the area on Feb. 17.
In an email to families, Olathe Northwest High School Principal Chris Zuck stated that staff members observed the walkout from a distance to help ensure safety but could not guarantee supervision once students left campus. Zuck indicated the altercation occurred off school property, according to reporting by KCTV5.
Zuck also affirmed the district’s commitment to students’ constitutional rights to peaceful expression while emphasizing that violence will not be tolerated and that disciplinary action will follow unlawful behavior.
Separately, Superintendent Dr. Brent Yeager issued a statement, as reported by KSHB, reinforcing the district’s commitment to both educational focus and student safety. He encouraged parents to speak with their children about peaceful civic engagement.
The Olathe Police Department stated that the investigation remains active and encouraged anyone with information to contact the department or the TIPS hotline.
According to KCTV5’s reporting, school officials also acknowledged that another student-planned walkout has been discussed on social media for Wednesday, Feb. 25, though it is unrelated to immigration issues. District officials indicated there may be an increased safety presence if that demonstration proceeds.
Dane Hicks is a graduate of the University of Missouri School of Journalism and the United States Marine Corps Officer Candidate School at Quantico, VA. He is the author of novels "The Skinning Tree" and "A Whisper For Help." As publisher of the Anderson County Review in Garnett, KS., he is a recipient of the Kansas Press Association's Boyd Community Service Award as well as more than 60 awards for excellence in news, editorial and photography.
