Cancel the Suspension of the Northside45 and Keep ICE out of HISD Schools
Superintendent Mike Miles and HISD Central Division Leadership
[English/español abajo]
On Friday, February 7, 2025, Houston ISD Senior Leadership failed to protect students' right to peaceful protest during a time of crisis for Latino immigrant communities. Northside High School students spoke out against two forces harming their communities: Houston ICE raids and the HISD takeover. Both have heightened fear and instability for students and working families. Many witnessed protests against the Department of Homeland Security lifting protections against immigration enforcement at schools. Northside students joined others nationwide and across Texas in demanding an end to ICE raids, anti-immigrant extremism, and deportations. Their protest also called attention to the need for long-overdue public school funding.
Superintendent Mike Miles and HISD Senior Leadership, acting recklessly, directed school administrators to tell 45 parents/guardians that their child would be suspended or expelled for exercising their freedom of speech and causing so-called "disruption." Early Monday morning (2/10/25), students, parents, educators, and community members gathered outside Northside High School to stop the effort to silence courageous students and put them on the path to being pushed out of their education. Later that morning, a delegation of parents peacefully walked to the school building to speak with administrators. After being initially denied entry, the parents were allowed inside and were given a Level 4 suspension notice, an over-the-top measure. No evidence was provided to support these accusations.
Arguing that the severity of the action is unwarranted, the Texas chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) has sent a letter to Houston ISD leaders urging them to "immediately rescind" punishments for the students who were given a suspension due to their participation in the February 7 protest.
Northside students and parents now need your help. To show your support, sign and share this petition.
If you are a member of a larger organization, please consider writing an independent support letter to HISD. You can use the ACLU letter and the letter below as a guide if you need a template. Please consider sharing this with us at TheNorthside45@proton.me
[Español]
Urgimos cancelar la suspensión del Northside45 y mantener a ICE fuera de las escuelas de HISD
Argumentando que la severidad de la acción no está justificada, el capítulo de Texas de la Unión Estadounidense por las Libertades Civiles (ACLU, por sus siglas en inglés) envió una carta a los líderes de Houston ISD instándolos a "rescindir inmediatamente" los castigos para los estudiantes que fueron suspendidos debido a su participación en la protesta del 7 de febrero.
Los estudiantes y padres de Northside ahora necesitan su ayuda. Para mostrar tu apoyo, firme y comparte esta petición.
Si es miembro de una organización más grande, considere escribir una carta de apoyo independiente a HISD. Puede utilizar la carta de la ACLU y la carta a continuación como guía si necesita una plantilla. Por favor considere compartir su carta con nosotros en TheNorthside45@proton.me
Petition by
Sponsored by
To:
Superintendent Mike Miles and HISD Central Division Leadership
From:
[Your Name]
[English/español abajo]
Houston Independent School District
4400 West 18th St.
Houston, TX 77092-8501
Phone: 713-556-6000
Dear Mr. F. Mike Miles, Superintendent of Houston ISD, Luz Martinez, Ray Winkler, and Senior Leadership,
We, the undersigned individuals, stand in solidarity with the 45 Northside High School students who were issued a 3-day suspension for exercising their freedom of speech rights. The undersigned are classmates, family members, neighbors, faith leaders, business professionals, educators, and community members. It is crucial for Northside High School to support our students, especially during this critical time for Latino immigrant communities.
We urge Houston ISD Superintendent F. Mike Miles and Senior Leadership to prioritize the social, emotional, and educational needs of the 45 students as they assert their right to freedom of speech. Northside High School has a history of supporting students who exercise this right, and we call on current leadership to demonstrate compassion and empathy for students from communities in crisis. Parents should not have to endure fear caused by widespread panic as a result of the Trump anti-immigration orders.
Furthermore, we recognize that Northside High School is among many public schools urgently needing funding. Our community believes that public funds currently allocated for immigration raids and other forms of intimidation toward immigrant communities should instead be invested in our public schools. This investment is essential to support all students and uphold their right to a free public education.
Together with partners trusted by the Houston immigrant community, we believe Houston ISD can create, adopt, and implement with due diligence a resolution and policy to allow all students access to a free public K-12 education safe from disruptions from U.S. Immigration Customs and Enforcement, law enforcement deputized to act as ICE agents or third-party entities acting on behalf of ICE and enforcing federal immigration laws.
In conclusion, by dropping the suspensions and removing them from the permanent record of Northside HS students, our students can move forward with their educational journey and rebuild trust with school leadership.
[Español]
Houston Independent School District
4400 West 18th St.
Houston, TX 77092-8501
Phone: 713-556-6000
Estimado Sr. F. Mike Miles, Superintendente de Houston ISD, Luz Martínez, Ray Winkler y el liderazgo superior,
Nosotros, los abajo firmantes, nos solidarizamos con los 45 estudiantes de Northside High School a quienes se les impuso una suspensión de 3 días por ejercer su derecho a la libertad de expresión. Los abajo firmantes son compañeros de clase, familiares, vecinos, líderes religiosos, profesionales de negocios, educadores y miembros de la comunidad. Es crucial que Northside High School apoye a nuestros estudiantes, especialmente durante este momento crítico para las comunidades de inmigrantes latinos.
Instamos al superintendente de Houston ISD, F. Mike Miles, y al liderazgo superior a priorizar las necesidades sociales, emocionales y educativas de los 45 estudiantes mientras afirman su derecho a la libertad de expresión. Northside High School tiene un historial de apoyo a los estudiantes que ejercen este derecho, y hacemos un llamado al liderazgo superior para que demuestren compasión y empatía por los estudiantes de comunidades en crisis. Los padres no deberían tener que soportar el miedo causado por el pánico generalizado como resultado de las órdenes antiinmigración de Trump.
Además, reconocemos que Northside High School se encuentra entre muchas escuelas públicas que necesitan financiación con urgencia. Nuestra comunidad cree que los fondos públicos actualmente asignados para redadas de inmigración y otras formas de intimidación hacia las comunidades de inmigrantes deberían invertirse en nuestras escuelas públicas. Esta inversión es esencial para apoyar a todos los estudiantes y defender su derecho a una educación pública gratuita.
Junto con socios en los que confía la comunidad inmigrante de Houston, creemos que Houston ISD puede crear, adoptar e implementar con la debida diligencia una resolución y una política que permita a todos los estudiantes acceder a una educación pública gratuita desde K-12, a salvo de interrupciones por parte de la Oficina de Aduanas y Control de Inmigración de los EE. UU., las autoridades encargadas de actuar como agentes de ICE o entidades de terceros que actúan en nombre de ICE y hacer cumplir las leyes federales de inmigración.
En conclusión, al eliminar las suspensiones y eliminarlas del registro permanente de los estudiantes de Northside HS, nuestros estudiantes pueden avanzar en su trayectoria educativa y reconstruir la confianza con el liderazgo superior escolar.
[English]
By signing this petition, you will receive updates from the Northside45 and the Ethnic Studies Network of Texas on matters related to student free speech, as well as truthful, accurate, well-resourced, and supportive education in schools.
[Español]
Al firmar esta petición, recibirá actualizaciones de Northside45 y de la Red de Estudios Étnicos de Texas sobre asuntos relacionados con la libertad de expresión de los estudiantes, así como con una educación veraz, precisa, con buenos recursos y apoyos efectivos en las escuelas.