Hundreds of Spring Valley Students Stage Walkout to Protest Ben Fields’ Firing
While school resource officer Ben Fields was fired on Wednesday for his controversial handling of a student at Spring Valley High School, it would seem that not all of the students think he deserved to be removed.
Over the past few days, Fields has been scrutinized by students and the media for using what some say was excessive force against the disobedient student, and the sheriff said that he did not follow proper procedure with his actions. Nonetheless, at around 10 A.M. today, hundreds of students walked out of class and congregated in the school atrium in protest of the firing.
wistv.com – Columbia, South Carolina
Principal Jeff Temoney was filmed by a student when he told the protesters that no one would be suspended, but he asked everyone to return to class. The students, many of whom wore shirts saying #FreeFields and #BringBackFields, responded with more cheers to bring back the cop. The school later said the protest continued, but things were kept safe and orderly.
— Cassibry (@JCass_12) October 30, 2015
“I believe it is important as a student to voice my opinion,” said student John Cassibry, who uploaded the video. “My belief on Deputy Fields is just that, I do believe he was too aggressive, but I do not believe it was any circumstance to lose his job, nor do I believe it was race-driven.”
You can watch a report on the walkout in the video above, via WIS-TV.
[h/t Huffington Post]
[Image via Twitter]
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