HOLLYWOOD, Fla., Jan. 27 (UPI) -- Students at a Florida high school have launched rival petition drives over the wearing of belt buckles and shirts with Confederate symbols.
Ilana Hostyk, a 15-year-old student at Hollywood High School, started the petition to ban Confederate symbols this week. She says she already has 300 signatures.
"My whole goal is to ban the Confederate flag from Broward schools," Hostyk told the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. "People are really offended by it."
Other students who say the Confederate flag is a symbol of rebel pride started their own petition.
School officials say the petitions have caused arguments but no violence. The school board does not plan to add a ban to the dress code, instead scheduling a forum for discussion of the issue.
Hollywood High has 2,200 students. About 40 percent are white, 20 percent black and 35 percent Hispanic.
