Over 100 Students Rally and Protest Administration for Not Doing Enough to Combat Anti-LGBT Bullying

Bullied Student Says His Bullies Now Are ‘Definitely Outnumbered’

It began at 6:30 AM Monday morning. 100 to 200 students in York, Maine held a rally to protest their high school’s administration for not doing enough to combat anti-LGBT bullying, as they called for unity. Waving rainbow flags and donning rainbow-colored hats and tee shirts, the students stood across the street from York High with signs that said “Suicide is no joke,” “Be kind,” “Protect us from bullying,” “Love is love,” and “You are beautiful,” as cars passed by.

“The parents of Garrett McCann were also at the protest,” WMTW reports. “They said their son has been bullied for about a month at school, on the bus and online. They said the school has done nothing to stop it.” 

Julie McCann, Garrett’s mother, says “a lot of kids have been taken out of the school or homeschooled because of” the bullying. “So I think it’s really important that these kids united here today to support all of their classmates.”

Bangor Daily News puts the number of students protesting at over 200, and says students rallied “in support of a 14-year-old gay student who has been the target of bullying. Meanwhile, the bullied student’s older brother is facing criminal charges, according to his family, after he engaged in a physical confrontation with one of the alleged bullies.”

“You see all walks of life from the high school out here right now,” said Nate Davis, a YHS student. “You’ve got football players, two of the captains, people from the drama club who never get involved in sports, all sorts of people. When everyone gets together for one problem you can tell that problem is big enough that you need to address it soon. That’s what this is trying to show. We’re not all from one group, but we’re all united.”

That sentiment was not lost on the bullied student, who was surrounded by friends at the rally. “It’s only about four or five or six people [who were being bullies] and look at the people here. They’re definitely outnumbered,” Garrett McCann said, adding that he “definitely” feels supported. “I mean I don’t even know some of these people, and here they are.”

Samantha Corbett told WMTW the message to LGBT students is “you’re not alone and other kids have your back.” And she says students “want an open dialogue with our school and with our administration.”

Principal Karl Francis says it’s unfair to say the school has done nothing to combat bullying. He says they’ve included the local police in an investigation.

“We have dedicated the day to listen to students and look forward to working alongside them to ensure that all students feel welcome, safe and supported at York High School,” Francis told WCSH is a statement. “This morning’s rally signified a statement of unity and respect for all York students.”

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