High School Protesters in Pennsylvania Face Legal Challenges After Clash with Police Chief
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — In a controversial incident in Quakertown, Pennsylvania, a group of high school students protesting against immigration enforcement policies found themselves embroiled in legal troubles after an altercation with a man who turned out to be the town’s police chief. The first of the five detained students has been admitted into a probationary program to avoid a criminal record.
While one student has entered the program, three other teenagers have delayed their court proceedings in Bucks County, and a lawyer representing a fifth student is advocating for the dismissal of assault charges. “I think the way these kids have been persecuted for protesting and speaking their minds is absolutely shameful,” said Ettore “Ed” Angelo, the lawyer for a 15-year-old girl involved in the incident.
The students, mostly children of color, were detained for periods ranging from four to eight days following the February 20 scuffle. They were subsequently placed under house arrest with ankle monitors for a month. The police response to the protest, which was part of a nationwide demonstration against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) policies, has sparked heated discussions in the predominantly white community of Quakertown. The 72-year-old police chief, Scott McElree, who also serves as borough manager, has since gone on medical leave.
Angelo’s 80-pound client faces felony assault charges for allegedly hitting McElree on the shoulder as he restrained another student. McElree, who is under investigation by the county prosecutor, remains the named victim in the ongoing juvenile cases. Angelo is seeking additional time to gather information before considering any settlement offers.
“These kids are being taught that we have two systems of justice. There’s one system for those with power and wealth. And then there’s the other system for those who have neither,” Angelo remarked.
The protest by Quakertown Community High School students was initially approved by the school but was canceled due to safety concerns. Despite this, around 35 students embarked on a demonstration through town. They encountered opposition from other students driving by, who reportedly harassed the protesters, according to defense attorneys.
A group of about ten students was gathered near a bakery when McElree, dressed in civilian clothes, intervened. According to social media footage, a confrontation ensued as McElree attempted to restrain a student by placing his arm around her neck. This student is among those whose cases are pending.
The students have been charged with felony assault, a charge that carries weight due to McElree’s official position, alongside other lesser charges. Community members have expressed their discontent, with some calling for McElree’s resignation during town meetings and through online petitions.
Efforts to reach McElree for comment have been unsuccessful, and his attorney has not responded to inquiries. A representative from District Attorney Joe Khan’s office confirmed that the investigation into the police’s handling of the protest is ongoing.
The student placed on probation is a high school junior and an American child of immigrants with aspirations to join the military, according to his lawyer, Donald Souders. He endured four days in detention trying to remove glass from his eye after his glasses were broken during the incident.
Souders remarked that the case reflects the broader societal divisions in America, noting that instead of de-escalating the situation, law enforcement allowed tensions to rise. “These kids had the courage and the heart to care enough to go out and protest,” Souders stated. “The police chief apparently was there watching the protests along the route. He did nothing to stop the anti-protesters who were harassing (them), who were using racial slurs, using veiled threats against the kids. He did nothing.”
Quakertown is located approximately 40 miles north of Philadelphia.
