Sheriff, Wilder students wear pink to protest bullying

Keith Gedamke / The Item Wilder Elementary School fifth-graders are seen with Sheriff Anthony Dennis following their assembly Wednesday morning. Students were encouraged to wear pink as a way to take a stand against bullying during the school’s first Pink Day.

Pink against bullies (video)

By JASON WERMERS
Item Staff Writer
jwermers@theitem.com

If Noah, Isaac, Hakeem or any other boy caught grief for wearing pink Wednesday, they could turn to two formidable allies — Sumter County Sheriff Anthony Dennis and sheriff’s Maj. Hampton Gardner.

“If you see the deputies in pink, don’t be surprised because it’s a beautiful color,” Dennis told students during an anti-bullying assembly Wednesday morning at Wilder Elementary School in South Sumter. “And I think everyone should wear it of all genders — boys, girls and everyone.”

Dennis and Gardner both wore pale pink shirts to the assembly in celebration of the school’s first “Pink Day.” All students were encouraged to wear pink as a way to take a stand against bullying.

“I commend you on taking a stand against bullying,” Gardner said. “We are so proud we can wear pink, just like you. I was one of the ones who said a man shouldn’t wear pink. But you know what? It looks good, don’t it?”

The school’s fifth-graders took charge of organizing the day four weeks ago, when fifth-grade teacher Debbie Sweat first shared the idea with them.

Sweat learned about “Pink Day” bullying protests through an e-mail from a friend recounting an incident in Canada in which a ninth-grade boy was harassed and bullied for wearing a pink polo shirt to school. Two 12th-grade boys saw this and decided to take a stand against the bullies and for their younger schoolmate. They bought 50 discount pink T-shirts and tank tops and e-mailed as many friends as they could, encouraging them to wear pink the next day. The response surpassed even what the seniors expected, and the strong show of pink-wearing students effectively silenced the bullies.

“You, boys and girls, are setting the example at Wilder Elementary School by wearing pink,” Sweat said. “Take a stand against bullies, and wear pink proudly.”

One Wilder boy who has no problem wearing pink shirts is fifth-grader Noah Holt, 10. He wore a shirt Wednesday listing “10 Reasons I Wear Pink,” including, “to annoy you,” “because my dad did the laundry” and, the top reason, “Tough guys wear pink.” A few other boys also wore pink shirts with “Tough guys wear pink,” printed in large letters. A girl wore a black shirt advertising pop star Pink.

Teachers and administrators, male and female alike, wore shirts that were varying shades of pink.

“I think it helps out the kids who are being bullied,” said Noah, who added that pink is a regular part of his wardrobe. “Most boys don’t wear pink, and it’s mostly boys who are bullying.”

Carley Griffin, also 10 and a fifth-grader, said girls don’t feel out of place wearing pink. But they did appreciate the boys, including the sheriff, joining in on Wednesday, even if they giggled a little.

“Most of the boys wear dark colors,” Carley said. “It was kind of funny to see them wearing pink, and it was cool. It helped us try to take a stand against bullies.”

Don’t think the sheriff was kidding about having his deputies wear pink. He said Wednesday was the start of an annual event for the sheriff’s office, in which each employee will be encouraged to wear a pink shirt or pink ribbon to observe Pink Day every Feb. 25.

“Bullies are causing a lot of problems for our kids,” Dennis said. “This is another proactive way to fight that. We think wearing pink to take a stand against bullies is a great idea.”



Contact Staff Writer Jason Wermers at jwermers@theitem.com or (803) 774-1295.