Brooklyn Middle Schoolers Walk Out Against Bullying
Families of New York City middle schoolers can ask how their child's school handles bullying reports and student dialogue.
Updated on Nov. 1, 2026 in Secondary Education
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Students at Uncommon Excellence Boys Middle School in Bedford-Stuyvesant, Brooklyn, staged a schoolwide walkout against bullying during National Bullying Prevention Month in October 2026. Students marched through their neighborhood with signs and chants calling for an end to bullying.
Why it matters
The walkout gives families in New York City a concrete example of how schools are teaching students to speak up about bullying, discrimination, and respect for classmates from different backgrounds. It also shows how a school community can turn an awareness month into hands-on leadership practice for middle schoolers.
The walkout took place in October 2026 during National Bullying Prevention Month, with seventh-grader Jaden Holliday and fifth-grader Banks Duboius among the participants. The event also honored Nolan Wells, an 18-year-old from Mississippi, though no direct link between his death and bullying was established.
The players
Uncommon Excellence Boys Middle School
A Bedford-Stuyvesant middle school in Brooklyn that gives students structured opportunities to discuss hard topics and build leadership skills.
Jermaine Isaac
Principal of Uncommon Excellence Boys Middle School, who stressed that school staff should reflect the students they serve.
The details
Students left the building and marched through their Bedford-Stuyvesant neighborhood carrying signs and chanting for an end to bullying. Participants emphasized standing against discrimination and supporting classmates from different backgrounds. Principal Jermaine Isaac said it matters that the staff reflects the students it serves, and the school offers students chances to take part in difficult conversations and build leadership skills.
Timeline
October 2026: schoolwide walkout held during National Bullying Prevention Month
The Home Front
National Bullying Prevention Month gives schools a recurring October window to focus on student safety and belonging. This walkout shows one school using that window to move from classroom messaging into a visible neighborhood action.
If your child attends a New York City middle school, ask the school how it addresses bullying and whether students have leadership or dialogue programs during the school year. Look for an open conversation with staff about how concerns are reported and followed up.
The takeaway
Student walkouts can make a school's anti-bullying message visible and give students practical leadership experience. Families can ask their child's school what reporting and discussion options are available year-round, not just during awareness months.
Further reading
For more on how schools handle student safety and leadership, explore Secondary Education coverage for New York City families.
Source note: This article includes information reported by BKReader.
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