North Plainfield Walkout Organizer: "We Knew There'd Be Consequences"
Senior Hamza Ramadan says discipline was expected after the Feb. 6 anti-ICE walkout, but not so widespread.
North Plainfield High School students participating in a Feb. 6 anti-ICE protest and walkout. (Courtesy: Hamza Ramadan)
Chris Howell | February 15, 2026
Before walking out of class earlier this month, North Plainfield High School senior Hamza Ramadan knew the risk.
The day before the Feb. 6 protest, district officials emailed families warning that a planned demonstration was expected at both the high school and middle school. The message emphasized support for “student voice” and “civic engagement.” However, it also made clear that leaving campus during the instructional day without permission would be considered disruptive and could raise safety concerns. Students were expected to remain in school in accordance with district policy and the code of conduct.
“We communicated to everyone that we should expect some kind of consequence,” Ramadan told The Central Jerseyan in an exclusive interview.
What he and the other organizers did not anticipate, he said, was that discipline would extend beyond leadership to all of the dozens of students involved. Ramadan and others with knowledge of the situation said North Plainfield High School officials issued formal disciplinary letters to virtually every student who participated in the walkout, assigning Saturday detention for eloping from school grounds, cutting class, and creating a disruptive school environment.
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Ramadan, 18, said the protest was rooted in broader concerns about immigration enforcement nationally and in New Jersey.
“This is something that affects us as a community, as humans,” he said.
He said his family members are immigrants and U.S. citizens, and while he has not personally experienced immigration enforcement, he sees it as an issue that could affect anyone.
“I haven’t been personally affected by ICE activity, but there’s nothing to say that I can’t be affected in the future,” he said. “It’s frankly scary.”
He referenced reported arrests of U.S. citizens by federal immigration agents and the fatal shootings of Renee Good and Alex Pretti in Minneapolis. The arrests and shooting were the topics of congressional hearings after drawing national attention.
He described the walkout as an effort to unite students who felt similarly.
“We’re not just protesting for ourselves. We’re protesting for our families who want to come here,” he said.
Students from North Plainfield High School gather during a Feb. 6 walkout and anti-ICE protest that later resulted in Saturday detention notices. (Courtesy: Hamza Ramadan)
Ramadan said five student organizers coordinated the event, working in part with students at Plainfield High School who were planning their own rally.
During eighth period on Feb. 6, North Plainfield students gathered and walked out together. The group marched into Plainfield, joined a rally there, then collectively walked down Front Street before splitting off and looping back toward North Plainfield High School.
Ramadan estimated that between 150 and 200 students participated across both towns, mostly from North Plainfield.
“For our first run, I would definitely say that it went a million times better than we could ever hope for,” he said. “I felt proud in our community and everyone who attended or showed their support.”
Following the protest, North Plainfield High School sent disciplinary notices assigning Saturday detention.
The letters cited three violations: eloping from school grounds, cutting class, and creating a disruptive school environment. Detention was scheduled for Feb. 21 from 9 a.m. to noon, according to a copy reviewed by The Central Jerseyan.
Ramadan acknowledged that leaving school during the instructional day violated established policy.
“It’s completely understandable,” he said. “Even if it was one or two students that walked out and cut class, that’s still something that has to be punished.”
He added that the consequences did not change his view of administrators.
“They have jobs to do. There’s a school policy set,” he said. “The consequences we received do not give me and the organizers a negative perspective of the principal or administration.”
The Central Jerseyan has reached out to the principal and superintendent for comment and has not received a response.
Ramadan said the reaction to the detentions has been mixed.
“A lot of people started to talk about it within our group chat,” he said. “Some people were mad. Some people were understanding.”
He said he has seen parents and students express frustration online, arguing the punishment was excessive. Others view it as a predictable outcome of leaving campus during class time.
“That’s part of the sacrifice you accept,” he said.
The Saturday detention is mandatory, and failure to attend could result in further consequences, according to the disciplinary notice.
Ramadan said discussions are already underway about future demonstrations, possibly something more formally coordinated and supported by community leaders.
He noted that Plainfield’s rally appeared to receive visible backing from local officials, something organizers in North Plainfield have not experienced.
For now, he said, the experience reinforced the purpose behind the walkout.
“We knew there could be consequences,” Ramadan said. “And we did it anyway.”
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