Island Wide Walkout
South Whidbey students taking the streets and marching down Maxwelton.
Whidbey Island, WA—On April 3rd, 2026 at 1:30pm, United Student Leaders organized students from the South Whidbey High School, Oak Harbor High School, and North Whidbey Middle School to all simultaneously walked out of class. Students from South Whidbey marched to the Castle Park picnic shelters to rally and give speeches, before marching back down Maxwelton Road, taking the streets as they did so. Students from Oak Harbor High School and North Whidbey Middle School marched to Rotary Park to give over eight student speeches against ICE and for a Just Transition away from fossil fuels. They call ICE OUT of All of Our Communities, Island County to Declare a Climate Emergency, and a Global Just Transition Now.
This is the first time South Whidbey students have walked out twice in the same year for a climate emergency declaration. Historically, this is also the first time students across Island County have had a coordinated walkout. This is the 6th student walkout to date calling for a climate emergency, among other demands. It is estimated that over 160 students and community members participated in the walkout. These walkouts were led and coordinated by United Student Leaders, a 100% student-led nonprofit organization based on Whidbey, fighting for Climate and Social Justice.
“We will march stronger, louder, with greater frequency, and in ever increasing numbers until we win a world with people over profit” —Carter McKnight, USL Member and senior at SWHS
“Together we can choose action over silence, compassion over fear, and make sure that everyone, no matter where they come from, feels welcome here on earth.” —Emily Fisher, USL member and freshmen at OHHS
United Student Leaders, the organizers of the walkouts, continue to push for Island County to declare a climate emergency by amending and strengthening the county's climate resolution C-55-22. United Student Leaders are also calling for “ICE OUT of all of our communities.”