By R.J. Morales | TX3DNews
McKINNEY, Texas — A group of McKinney High School students is organizing a “Hate Stops Here, March for Peace” rally on Sunday, February 22, from 12 p.m. to 2 p.m., beginning at the school and concluding at Glenn Mitchell Park in downtown McKinney. The event marks the second student-led demonstration in Collin County this month, following a youth protest in Allen earlier in February.
Organizers Outline Purpose
The march is being organized by the McKinney Area High School Democrats, according to information posted on the group’s Instagram page and Mobilize event listing.
On the event page, organizers describe the rally as “about protecting our classmates, our families, and our future” and “showing that McKinney’s residents, young and old, will not be silent in the face of prejudice or intimidation.” The listing adds that peace “is built when ordinary people step forward together.”
Organizers state that the march is grounded in a commitment to nonviolent action. Participants are expected to act lawfully, de-escalate confrontation, and treat others with respect and restraint. Weapons of any kind, including those legally permitted, are strongly discouraged.
The Collin County Democratic Party has also publicly promoted the event and announced plans to participate. In a press release, the party affirmed support for the First Amendment right to peaceful assembly and encouraged community members to attend.
Second Student Rally This Month
The McKinney march follows a student-led demonstration earlier this month at Watters Creek in Allen, where students gathered to voice concerns about immigration enforcement policies.
Organizers of the Allen event emphasized that their effort originated with students. As previously reported, Allen Progressive Eagles founder Hana Fayed said at the time that the protest “started with students, not political campaigns,” and described it as an effort to reclaim what she called the original meaning of democracy.
“The purpose of this protest was to remember what democracy is actually supposed to mean,” Fayed told TX3DNews during the Allen rally. “One of its most essential principles is solidarity.”
Another Allen organizer, Holden Killian, described the demonstration as a moment of unity, saying, “Growing up in the country, I never felt the hope or unity that I do now.”
Both the Allen rally and the upcoming McKinney march are organized by students and emphasize peaceful assembly. While the Allen event focused specifically on immigration policy, organizers of the McKinney march describe their event more broadly as a call for unity and opposition to prejudice.
Statewide Guidance on Student Protests
The McKinney march comes amid broader statewide discussion about student-led demonstrations in Texas public schools.
Earlier this month, the Texas Education Agency (TEA) issued guidance to school districts outlining how student walkouts during instructional time should be handled. The agency stated that students who leave class to participate in protests must be marked absent under attendance rules. TEA also warned that districts risk funding consequences if they “allow or encourage” walkouts, and that educators who facilitate such actions could face investigation and potential disciplinary measures.
The guidance followed public statements from Gov. Greg Abbott directing the agency to review instances of political activism occurring during school hours. Attorney General Ken Paxton has also announced investigations into several Texas school districts related to student walkouts.
The McKinney event, however, is scheduled for Sunday afternoon and is not planned during instructional time. As of publication, no state official has issued guidance or statements specific to this march.
Looking Ahead
With the march scheduled for Sunday, attention now turns to turnout and how the community responds to the second student-led demonstration in Collin County this month.
Organizers have emphasized that the event is intended to be peaceful and have published conduct guidelines encouraging lawful participation and de-escalation.
As of publication, no formal counter-events have been announced, and no state officials have issued statements specific to the McKinney march.
Event Details
• What: “Hate Stops Here, March for Peace” Rally
• When: Sunday, February 22, 2026 | 12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
• Where: McKinney High School (1400 Wilson Creek Pkwy) to Glenn Mitchell Park
• Organized by: McKinney High School student organizers
Participants are encouraged to review official event postings for updates and conduct expectations.
Editor’s Note: TX3DNews does not organize or endorse public demonstrations. This article reports on an upcoming student-led event using publicly available materials and previously reported coverage for context.