Student who Planned & Organized ‘Don’t Say Gay’ Protests Indefinitely Suspended
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Jack Petocz, the Flagler Palm Coast High School junior who organized the statewide walk out protests of Florida’s “Don’t Say Gay Bill” has been suspended indefinitely.
#NotAfraidToSayGay is at #3 pm trending keep tweeting! https://t.co/2DG5Yscj6O
— David Hogg ???? (@davidhogg111) March 4, 2022
After leading the walkout at his own school on Thursday, Petocz distributed around 200 pride flags for a rally. The teenager told The Daytona Beach News-Journal that he had been advised not to hand out the flags by the school’s principal, Greg Schwartz.
In a letter he posted on Instagram, Petocz said he had wanted to protest the “homophobic and discriminatory legislation” at the rally, which had been approved by the school.
I organized the statewide #DSGWalkout today in response to attempts to silence and erase the LGBTQ+ community in Florida. I was indefinitely suspended from my school for organizing a peaceful rally. Read my full statement below. pic.twitter.com/R5tplMvC8D
— Jack Petocz (@Jack_Petocz) March 3, 2022
“Over 500 students from my school joined thousands of other concerned youth statewide to demonstrate their constitutionally guaranteed right to freedom of speech, freedom of expression, and freedom to protest,” Petocz wrote.
Students waved pride flags and stood together, showing the politicians peddling bigotry that we will not be silenced.”
@genzforchange @Jack Petocz is organizing a state wide walk out against the “Don’t Say Gay” Bill. Watch until the end to learn more! #genzforchange #florida #lgbtq ♬ original sound – Gen-Z for Change
Petocz added that even though the school administration had permitted the demonstration, their “demeanor and tone drastically shifted” as the rally progressed.
When students started filing into the stadium, staff tried to physically stop some of them from carrying flags and other rainbow symbols, some of which Jack purchased and gave to student organizers to hand out. Students have told reporters some staff members forced flags out of their hands or tried to bodily block them from entering the stadium with flags.
“I pushed back on this, as I wasn’t going to allow staff to minimize our reach and message,” Jack told reporters with the Daytona Beach News-Journal. “Using my megaphone, I told students to hold onto their flags and not to allow them to silence us.”
Hundreds of students chanted “Say gay! Say gay! Say gay!” as Jack got up to speak. Administrators circled them, threatening discipline if they didn’t turn in their flags and other Pride symbols.
After seven minutes of the 15 minutes agreed to for the event, administrators started shouting, telling students to hand in their flags and go back to class immediately. Student videos sent to The News-Journal confirm administrators tried to force Jack to stop speaking only halfway through his pre-arranged time.
I organized the statewide #DSGWalkout today in response to attempts to silence and erase the LGBTQ+ community in Florida. I was indefinitely suspended from my school for organizing a peaceful rally. Read my full statement below. pic.twitter.com/R5tplMvC8D
— Jack Petocz (@Jack_Petocz) March 3, 2022
Jason Wheeler, a spokesman for the Flagler County school district, told the News-Journal that the district had allowed the students to walk out for 15 minutes, but the rally had gone on for longer than agreed.
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Wheeler added: “School administration spoke with the event organizer numerous times about the expectations and parameters so that students could take part in a peaceful, safe protest.”
I may have been suspended, but I will not be silenced. I am proud of who I am, and I am #notafraidtosaygay. pic.twitter.com/SbFmHO8mGY
— Jack Petocz (@Jack_Petocz) March 4, 2022
“Administration is trying to stop us!” shouted Jack. “We will say gay! We won’t be silent!”
“I am proud of who I am and I am proud of all of those protesting these regressive bills,” Petocz said. “We must let our politicians know that no matter how hard they try, they cannot suppress our identities or silence our voices.”
@jack_petocz We will not be silenced. #genzforchange #lgbtq #DSGwalkout #notafraidtosaygay ♬ without me – favsoundds
The proposed Florida law blanket-bans teachers from talking about gay or transgender people or issues in kindergarten through third grade. For other school levels, the law would prohibit teachers from talking about LGBTQ people or issues if not “developmentally appropriate” for students. The law would empower private citizens to sue school districts for alleged violations of the “developmentally appropriate” standard, which legal analysts like Mark Joseph Stern of Slate say would effectively force school boards to bar all teachers at all grade levels from discussing gay and transgender issues under almost all circumstances — because of fear of expensive lawsuits.
Stern claims the bill’s vagueness tells him sponsors intend that chilling effect, and that any “expert” who claims middle and high school teachers wouldn’t be silenced either hasn’t read the bill or isn’t being honest.
The bill has already passed the Florida House, is expected to sail through the Senate, and Governor Ron DeSantis has signaled his support.
A change.org petition calling for Petocz’s suspension to be lifted has gained more than 5,000 signatures. It reads:
Jack Petocz, lead student organizer of the DON’TSAYGAY walkout, has been suspended by Flagler Palm Coast High School after being reprimanded by Principal Greg Schwartz.
Principal Schwartz gave explicit permission and approval to the organizers for the walkout to happen, despite cutting our time and changing the location repeatedly.
Now, after interrupting the walkout and cutting it far shorter than what was previously agreed on, Schwartz has suspended Jack indefinitely “pending an investigation”.
FPC admin must have forgotten that students have freedom of speech. This act of retaliation is utterly disgusting. We demand that Jack’s suspension be rescinded immediately and that he receives a personal apology from Principal Schwartz.
Email Principal Gregory Schwartz at schwartzg@flaglerschools.com and let him know what you think about his conduct.
Call Flagler Palm Coast High School at 386-437-7540
Let’s hold those who would oppress and silence students accountable for their actions.
-Cameron Driggers, Student Organizer
Sign it now.
