EXCLUSIVE: LA County built a taxpayer-funded protest playbook for children.
— Natalie Winters (@nataliegwinters) August 27, 2026
The guide explicitly covers K–12 students—even kindergarteners—and walks them through school walkouts, truancy limits, arrest procedure, refusing searches and withholding immigration status.
I found it: pic.twitter.com/2F4cAxXTdp
The guide explicitly covers K–12 students—even kindergarteners—and walks them through school walkouts, truancy limits, arrest procedure, refusing searches and withholding immigration status.
I found it:
I found it:
The County’s rollout plan projected $190,000:
• $50K for 2–5 graphic artists
• $50K to print 10,000 cards/booklets
• $50K for up to 50 workshops
• $35K for 20 short videos
• $2,500 to compensate 50 youth advisers
• $50K for 2–5 graphic artists
• $50K to print 10,000 cards/booklets
• $50K for up to 50 workshops
• $35K for 20 short videos
• $2,500 to compensate 50 youth advisers
The Board approved it 5–0 after citing ICE raids and “No Kings.”
Supervisor Janice Hahn said the material “should be taught in schools,” distributed at schools—and that “the money should be budgeted for that purpose.”
Supervisor Janice Hahn said the material “should be taught in schools,” distributed at schools—and that “the money should be budgeted for that purpose.”
The guide holds up the 2020 BLM demonstrations as part of what it calls a “powerful legacy” of youth activism and says almost every major movement for justice was powered by youth.
It says nothing about the riots or destruction that accompanied the 2020 unrest.
It says nothing about the riots or destruction that accompanied the 2020 unrest.
If parents are nervous, LA County gives children a six-step script for making the case.
It tells them to link activism to shared family values, address safety concerns and explain the action—then offer phone banks or petitions as alternatives to demonstrations.
It tells them to link activism to shared family values, address safety concerns and explain the action—then offer phone banks or petitions as alternatives to demonstrations.
Then it prepares minors for police encounters:
• Ask if you’re free to leave
• Request a lawyer and parent
• Refuse questioning without counsel
• Refuse searches of body, bag, pockets or phone
• Film police
• Ask if you’re free to leave
• Request a lawyer and parent
• Refuse questioning without counsel
• Refuse searches of body, bag, pockets or phone
• Film police
The County explains the rules for leaving class to protest:
• Schools may discipline the absence
• They cannot punish it more harshly because it was political
• Missing class alone is not suspension grounds
• Truancy: 3+ unexcused days—or 3 long absences/tardies
• Schools may discipline the absence
• They cannot punish it more harshly because it was political
• Missing class alone is not suspension grounds
• Truancy: 3+ unexcused days—or 3 long absences/tardies
Children are taught about curfews, dispersal orders and unlawful assemblies; how violations can lead to citations, detention, fines, court or arrest; and that arrest may mean a police station, processing center or juvenile hall.
The most controversial instruction is buried on Page 19:
“If you are a noncitizen, do not provide your country of birth, citizenship, or immigration status to police officers or jail staff.”
It appears under the guide’s post-arrest section for civic-action participants.
“If you are a noncitizen, do not provide your country of birth, citizenship, or immigration status to police officers or jail staff.”
It appears under the guide’s post-arrest section for civic-action participants.
LA County’s disclaimer warns that detention, arrest and prosecution remain possible.
Yet taxpayers backed the pipeline: planned school distribution, workshops, paid design, 10,000 proposed handouts, legal hotlines and post-arrest guidance.
Yet taxpayers backed the pipeline: planned school distribution, workshops, paid design, 10,000 proposed handouts, legal hotlines and post-arrest guidance.
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