SONOMA, Calif. (KRON) -- Students and their supporters are pushing back against a controversial decision to remove the Pride flag from Sonoma Valley High School.
The Pride flag first went up at the high school in 2019, according to advocates. In January, board president of the Sonoma Valley Unified School District, David Bell, ordered the flag to be removed. Days later, the flag returned after a flurry of pushback.
The Sonoma Valley Unified School District board voted on Thursday to take down the Pride flag once again.
Lisa Storment, president of advocacy organization Wake Up Sonoma, said, “I'm extremely disappointed in the school board. I'm very, very encouraged by the students who have decided that this fight isn't over for them yet either. They're very strong. They're very resilient. And, you know, I think it's really disappointing that our school board is not listening to the community.”
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Local businesses are now displaying their own Pride flags in a show of solidarity. They can be seen around the town square and across the street from the school.
A memo to students, which was signed by around 60 staff members, said in part, “We value our LGBTQ+ students. You belong at Sonoma Valley High School and are an integral part of our Dragon community.”
Students are organizing a walkout just before noon Tuesday. Tomorrow, they will plant little Pride flags up and down the road in front of the campus to stand up for what they believe in.
