Students protest T-shirt suspensions

FORKS, Wash., Nov. 10 (UPI) -- Some of the students suspended from a Washington state high school for wearing Sex Pistols T-shirts protested outside the school during lunch hour.

The protesters said up to 25 Forks High School students were suspended Tuesday while school administrators said it was closer to 10 or 12 -- an official count was unavailable Tuesday night -- after donning T-shirts bearing the punk rock band's name during the school day Tuesday, the Peninsula Daily News, Port Angeles, Wash., reported Wednesday.

Students said the T-shirts were distributed Tuesday as a response to the suspending of senior Devin Chastain, who donned a Sex Pistols T-shirt after a friend was ordered to change.

"I'm suspended for three days for making a peaceful protest," Chastain said. "Sex Pistols is not a sexual innuendo. It is a homage to an important band."

"Because of the nature of what was on the shirts and the way in which they were distributed and how that was causing a disruption -- that is when the administration took action," Superintendent Diana Reaume said.

Nine of the suspended students, including Chastain, protested outside of the school during lunch hour Tuesday.

"Most of us parents are wondering if it is really that important, but if they want to fight for their rights, we are behind them," Chastain's mother, Staci, said of the row.