A history teacher at a South Los Angeles charter high school has been terminated after opening a campus gate to allow students to exit during a student-led anti-ICE protest, a move he says was intended to prevent injuries.
Ricardo Lopez, who taught US History at Synergy Quantum Charter High School, said he unlatched a fence last week after witnessing students attempting to scale it to join coordinated walkouts taking place across Southern California.
“I was just concerned about their safety,” Lopez told local media. “As the closest adult to them, I just opened the gate.”
According to Lopez, he had observed students injure themselves the previous day while climbing over the fence. When similar attempts resumed, he intervened to prevent further harm. Within an hour of the incident, he was reportedly dismissed for what the school described as “insubordination.”
Lopez said he was escorted off campus shortly after and later received his personal belongings — including student artwork and classroom materials — boxed and delivered to his residence.
Synergy Academies confirmed that Lopez is no longer employed at the school. In a statement, the administration said it respects students’ rights to express themselves but emphasized adherence to Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD) campus access and safety policies.
“Decisions about whether students may leave campus during the school day are made solely by school administration,” the statement said, noting that the charter school operates on an LAUSD campus and follows district security protocols.
Last week, district officials had issued advisories discouraging students from leaving campus during school hours amid the protests.
However, Lopez’s dismissal has sparked backlash from students and parents, who have held rallies outside the school demanding his reinstatement.
A petition calling for his return has garnered nearly 1,000 signatures, while a crowdfunding campaign describes his actions as an attempt to prioritise student safety over strict protocol.
Students have said Lopez did not encourage them to participate in the walkout and that they acted independently. Several parents, while expressing reservations about students leaving class, have termed the termination “excessive.”
Community groups, including Unión del Barrio and the Association of Raza Educators, have also voiced support.
“I just want to get back to my classroom and students,” Lopez said, adding that upcoming AP examinations make the timing particularly difficult.
As of now, the school has not indicated whether the decision will be reconsidered.
