Students at Mount Nebo Middle School in Payson, Utah, went on strike Wednesday to protest “fur” on campus.
The protest is reportedly against students who wear animal costumes in their daily lives. according to To WebMD“A furry community began to emerge in the 1970s with a growing interest in science fiction, anime, and role-playing.” Some adults embrace this, even holding conventions, but one had to ban minors from attending in response to Republican Gov. Ron DeSantis of Florida. signed Laws created to protect children.
In other words, furries are individuals who identify with anthropomorphic animals and enjoy dressing up as such. WebMD says: “Furries are people who are interested in anthropomorphic animals, or animals with human characteristics.”
of protest At school, both students and adults participated. according to According to ABC4, some students who identify as furry have been “accused of biting, scratching, spraying air fresheners, barking and chasing other students.”
life driving https://t.co/Wh90dE3rle
— Adam Bartholomew ️ (@lifeisdriving) April 17, 2024
Talk to organizers of this morning’s student protest strike #fur at Mount Nebo Middle School in Payson, Utah. @NeboDistrict pic.twitter.com/Mv2pisFdC8
— Adam Bartholomew ️ (@lifeisdriving) April 17, 2024
a Change.org petition Entitled “School Students Are for Humans, Not Animals, AKA Furries,” it calls on school administrators to “begin enforcing section 3.1.8 of the District Policy Dress Code,” which has over 1,500 people. Signatures have been collected.
But the school district has pushed back, saying many of the claims that prompted the protests are false. Nebo School District spokesman Seth Sorenson said the claims were false and denied that the students were wearing animal costumes.
He believes the protests may have been sparked by messages from the district that were not interpreted correctly.
according to to salt lake tribune:
The message, Sorenson said, was about one group of students targeting another group of students and saying something that “other people had heard and the administration decided was inappropriate and shouldn’t be said.” He said it was sent after.
He added that the group of students targeted are those who sometimes come to school wearing headbands that “may have ears attached.” He said he doesn’t think the targeted students necessarily call themselves “furries.”
“They’re pretty young kids,” he said. “Some students will show up wearing headbands or giant ribbons. Some students will show up dressed as their favorite basketball or baseball player. That’s just what kids this age do.
“We want parents to not just reach out and post on social media, but actually reach out to schools and have a conversation,” Sorenson added.
