How Hononegah students spoke out Feb. 6

Students at Hononegah Community High School walked out of class on Friday, Feb. 6, 2026 to protest immigration enforcement and U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). On the same day, another group of students gathered for prayer, motivated by Turning Point USA.

The anti-ICE walkout was organized by members of the Young Progressives of Hononegah, a student civic engagement club focused on education, dialogue, and youth participation in democracy.

In a memo, Principal Chad Dougherty said, “…we encourage them to select an event and time that does not interrupt their learning or disrupt the school.”

Aidan Noah Phommachanh, a Hononegah student and co-organizer of the walkout, is the president and founder of the Young Progressives. He said students planned and organized the walkout themselves and adjusted their plans during the event to avoid confrontation.

“I can say it was so rewarding organizing this walkout,” Phommachanh said. “I’m so proud of the hundreds of students who had the guts to stand up and speak their voice against ICE and their actions. And while this may be little old Rockton, every voice counts in this national movement.”

The group president said organizers moved the group to the track after learning another group of students had gathered at the original rally location.

“Opposing students actually staged a prayer circle at our original rally spot, so it pushed me to change our plan to the track to avoid any confrontation,” he said.

The organizers of the prayer circle said the prayer was not directed toward students who participated in the walkout.

Phommachanh said some parents later accused teachers of helping organize the walkout, but he said that was not the case.

”I can say this was 100 percent student-led,” he said. “School admin remained neutral and was carefully monitoring the situation.”

After staff at Hamline Elementary School in Chicago prevented Homeland Security agents from entering the school in January 2025, believing they were ICE agents, the Hononegah administration sent an email to parents saying, “As a parent, you can rest assured that we are steadfastly committed to protecting your child's education rights and ensuring that your child receives the best possible education in a safe and supportive environment.”

On the day of the walkout, the Young Progressives handed out flyers they had created, showing the walkout schedule. The flyer listed specific times and locations for gathering, walking through campus, and returning to class.

Prayer circle

At the same time as the walkout, a separate group of students gathered on campus for a prayer circle. The group included members of the Turning Point USA chapter at Hononegah, a student-led group affiliated with the national organization that promotes faith, conservative values, and encourages student involvement in political discussion.

Kennlee Rayann, a student leader with the chapter who has been involved in prior student-led civic conversations, said the decision to hold a prayer circle grew out of conversations within the group and encouragement from Turning Point USA.

“We were motivated to do so by the encouragement from our Turning Point USA family,” the chapter leader said. “We discussed the walkout that was rumored to take place and wanted to do a more positive, lighthearted, and kind gesture for our country and world as a whole.”

“Our prayer was not used as a weapon toward those protesting,” Kennlee said. “It was a call for help and protection that can only come from God. We also prayed for everyday things like health and school.”

Kennlee said the prayer circle took place between class periods and that students who participated did not miss class.

While Kennlee said students have the right to protest, she questioned whether walkouts belong in the school setting. She described blocked hallways, crowded parking areas, and students missing class time.

“The walkout sent a message that disrupting others’ education is okay,” Kennlee said. “That is why we chose to do something small, not disruptive, and full of positivity.”

Kennlee said she was proud of the students who chose to take part in the prayer circle.

“I am so proud of all who came and stood hand in hand together publicly without any shame,” she said. “This is a revival.”

Ahead of the walkout, Hononegah administrators shared guidance with students and families about expectations for student protests during the school day. On Feb. 5, Principal Chad Dougherty posted and emailed a message to families:

Hononegah Announcement

Greetings Hononegah Students and Families:

As you may be aware, there is an ongoing discussion among young people and families across the country about safety and related topics. In many schools, students have announced plans to participate in a school walkout. Other forms of activism are also being seen in different schools.

If some Hononegah students feel compelled to protest any topic important to them, we encourage them to select an event and time that does not interrupt their learning or disrupt the school.

If a student walkout occurs during school hours, our priority — as always — will be to maintain a safe environment for all students, regardless of their views or whether they choose to participate in a walkout. To accomplish this, we will observe these guidelines:

Students choosing not to participate in a protest will remain in class.

Students who choose to walk out during school hours will be encouraged to achieve their goals in the safest and least disruptive way possible, such as by congregating in a safe area within the building or on school grounds.

Students are required to remain on our campus at all times.

Students are required to return to their regular schedule immediately upon the conclusion of any protest.

We will coordinate with the Rockton Police Department to monitor protests and ensure student safety.

Students may be disciplined for engaging in an act of protest if it is disruptive or otherwise violates school rules, as well as for leaving school grounds during school hours. Students choosing to walk out and leave the grounds are subject to consequences equal to rules that are violated during the regular school day.

We expect students to accept the consequences of their actions.

Students have the right to protest, but not to interrupt or disrupt the school day or the education of other students. We respect the right to protest, while also maintaining a caring and safe environment for all students, regardless of their views. Thank you for continuing the conversation about school safety with our students in your homes.

Thank you,

Chad Dougherty, Principal, Hononegah Community High School

Similar student protests tied to immigration enforcement have taken place at other nearby high schools in recent weeks. Students at Guilford High School in Rockford held a demonstration against ICE on Jan. 30, and students at Pewaukee High School in southeastern Wisconsin staged a walkout on Feb. 4 focused on federal immigration actions.

The walkout at Hononegah took place during the school day and students remained on campus. Classes resumed after the walkout, and students returned to their regular 8th-hour schedules.