High school students in Quakertown walked out of class to protest federal immigration policy. What followed was chaos.

Videos show a plainclothes individual, identified by witnesses and media reports as the Quakertown Borough Police Chief, placing a female student in what appears to be a chokehold. Multiple juveniles were arrested. Witnesses described grown men confronting minors. Police say students entered traffic and assaulted officers. Community members dispute key parts of that account.

Now, the Bucks County District Attorney’s Office is conducting an independent investigation.

That investigation must be thorough, transparent, and public.

When minors are involved, the standard for restraint and professionalism must be higher, not lower. Students have constitutional rights to peaceful protest. Even when a demonstration deviates from school authorization, law enforcement response must be proportional and clearly identifiable.

This petition calls for the following actions:

• A fully independent, publicly reported investigation into the police response
• Administrative leave for any officer directly involved in the physical altercations pending the outcome of the investigation
• A prohibition on chokeholds or similar restraint tactics against minors
• A requirement that officers involved in crowd control or protest response wear clearly visible identification
• Clear written guidelines for handling student protests without excessive force

Transparency protects officers and students alike.

No one benefits from confusion, unidentified officers, or unclear use of force standards. Public trust depends on clear rules and accountability when those rules are questioned.

Quakertown’s students should not have to fear physical confrontation when exercising civic voice. Law enforcement should not be left navigating protests without updated, publicly understood standards.

Sign this petition to demand independent oversight, suspension pending review, and meaningful reform in how Quakertown handles youth protest situations.