Texas Man Faces Assault Charges After Confrontation with High School Protesters
A 45-year-old Texas man has been arrested and charged with assault following a physical confrontation with high school students during a walkout protest against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE). Chad Michael Watts was taken into custody on Tuesday after an incident that occurred Monday at Moe and Gene Johnson High School in Buda, Texas.
Violent Altercation During Peaceful Protest
According to local police, what began as a peaceful student demonstration escalated dramatically when Watts became involved. Authorities reported receiving notification about a verbal argument between a high school girl on the sidewalk and an adult man in a vehicle, which quickly "escalated into a physical altercation involving multiple people."
Video footage from the scene shows Watts scuffling with two students before falling to the ground. As he attempted to get up while clutching a red hat, more students surrounded him, with some punching and kicking him. Watts eventually returned to his pickup truck as students followed, yelling and throwing objects at his vehicle.
Police Investigation and Official Statements
Hays County Judge Ruben Becerra released a statement noting that while the student protest began peacefully, video evidence "appears to show an adult confronting students with visible hostility." Watts left the area before police arrived but was later interviewed by authorities.
Both Watts and one student sustained minor injuries during the confrontation. After investigation, police determined that Watts was the "primary aggressor" in the altercation. The investigation remains ongoing to determine whether additional charges will be filed.
Community and Political Reactions
Judge Becerra emphasized the responsibility adults bear in such situations, stating: "No matter one's political views, an adult bears a clear responsibility to exercise restraint, especially in the presence of children. Violence or intimidation directed at a minor—particularly during a lawful, peaceful demonstration—has no place in a constitutional republic that depends on the rule of law rather than force."
He continued: "I will not be silent when children exercising their constitutional rights are placed at risk. Our duty as a community is to protect the vulnerable and to uphold the foundational freedoms of speech and peaceful assembly that belong to all residents, regardless of viewpoint."
Broader Context of Student Walkouts in Texas
The incident occurs against a backdrop of increasing tension around student protests in Texas. Governor Greg Abbott has publicly condemned student walkouts, and the Texas Education Agency has released guidelines outlining consequences for such demonstrations.
Under these new guidelines, students participating in walkouts will be marked absent, and schools risk losing daily attendance funding if they allow or encourage students to leave class. Teachers who facilitate walkouts face investigation and potential revocation of their teaching licenses.
Governor Abbott commented on social media about the broader issue of student protests, writing: "It's about time students like this were arrested. Harming someone is a crime—even for students. Disruptive walkouts allowed by schools lead to just this kind of chaos."
The arrest of Chad Michael Watts represents a significant development in the ongoing debate about student activism, adult responsibility, and the boundaries of peaceful protest in educational settings.
