Last Friday, roughly 35 Quakertown high school students staged a walk out to protest ICE raids across the country. The demonstration, intended as a peaceful exercise of First Amendment rights, resulted in a contentious and physical altercation.
Widely circulated videos of Quakertown Police Chief and Borough Manager Scott McElree show him restraining a student in a chokehold. According to police, some students began throwing snowballs and damaging property. They also accused students of blocking traffic.
Witnesses disputed this story, with one telling ABC News “The situation was completely escalated by the police, and it was extremely jarring to watch.” In total, five students were arrested and are still being held in custody.
During a scheduled borough council work session on Monday night, Feb. 23, concerned citizens packed the room to share their frustration and anger about the situation, along with calls for McElree to be fired or resign. Outside Quakertown Borough Hall, protesters stood for over half an hour showing their support for the students.
Before opening the floor to public comment, Quakertown Borough Council President Donald E. Rosenberger gave a statement about the incident. “All of the Borough Council is very disturbed by the circumstances surrounding the incident. We do not condone the actions of anyone breaking the law,” he said. “At the borough’s request, this incident and the related circumstances are being investigated by the Bucks County District Attorney’s office.”
Once citizens began to speak, they voiced their demands directly. “We are calling for the immediate suspension of the chief of police. No one can deny that running into students and immediately beginning grabbing and throwing children is 100% egregious. This community has a lot of questions,” said Laura Foster, co-founder of Upper Bucks United.
“I know, as a manager of people, culture affects everything,” said resident Wes Combs. “How can the police force be fixed? How are we going to fix the police force here? Is it just going to be another short talk and a vote? Something really needs to change. He needs to be fired and out of our borough.”
One student who had been at the protest spoke about his experience that day. “I remember having to flee the situation pretty soon after it started, because of imminent danger, and run away to my friend’s house,” he said. “I did not feel safe to go to my house.”
“I feel that everybody who was arrested at the scene should be released to their parents immediately,” he added. “My sister told me she is pregnant with a child that will soon be going to school in this district, and I do not feel that people will be safe going to school if the chief of police is still in power.”
Not everyone who spoke at the meeting, however, was against McElree’s actions. “I think it was ridiculous that I watched Officer McElree get punched in the face three times,” said Caroline DeVenuto, who also claimed to have witnessed the situation. “If you guys weren’t there, I think it’s hilarious that you’re going to sit here and sing this sad song.”
The community outrage was palpable with many in the audience maintaining the police, not the students, were the aggressors. The next Borough Council meeting is scheduled for next Wednesday, March 4 at 7:30 p.m.
