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Jack Petocz
Petocz in 2022
Born (2004-09-08) September 8, 2004 (age 20)
EducationVanderbilt University
Alma materFlagler Palm Coast High School
OccupationActivist
Organization(s)Gen-Z for Change, Recall FCSB
Known forLGBTQ+ Activism
AwardsWebby Awards Social Movement of the Year, PEN America/Benenson Courage Award, Bob Stevenson Civil Libertarian of the Year Award, Anti-Defamation League Kay Family Award

Jack Petocz (born September 8, 2004) is an American student activist. He is the founder of Recall FCSB and a political strategist with the nonprofit organization Gen-Z for Change.[1] He identifies as gay and speaks about his experiences as an LGBTQ+ person.[2]

As an activist, Petocz has protested against public school policies in Florida related to book bans, dress codes, and the "Don't Say Gay" law.[3] His activism and writing about LGBTQ+ rights has been featured in FlaglerLive,[4] The New York Times,[5] and MSNBC.[6]

Early life and education

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Petocz was born on September 8, 2004.[7] He attended Rymfire Elementary School,[8] Indian Trails Middle School,[9] and Flagler Palm Coast High School.[10]

Activism

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Student dress codes

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On August 23, 2021, in an op-ed with Flagler Live,[4] Petocz voiced his opinion on the school district's dress code policy and brought attention to a petition to have it changed.[4] He stated that the dress code stripped students of all individuality and expression, adding that female students were particularly adversely affected.[11]

Book bans in schools

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In November 2021, Petocz organized a protest challenging the Flagler County School Board for a book ban which called to remove books about LGBTQ+ characters and racism in the classroom.[5]

Petocz, the only student in recent memory that a school board member censored as he was addressing the board, mobilized a protest after Board member Jill Woolbright filed a challenge to four titles in school libraries. The challenge caused the titles to be removed from circulation. Woolbright in a criminal complaint filed with the Flagler County Sheriff's Office and later in statements at school board meetings declared one of the circulation titles as criminal because of its sexual themes. Woolbright was supported by Board member Janet McDonald (the board member who had censored Petocz), who used similar language to describe some of the books in question, especially George Johnson All Boys Aren't Blue, a memoir of growing up Black and queer.[12]

Petocz was featured in The New York Times for organizing the protest against the Flagler County School Board for banning Johnson's book from school libraries.[5] In the article, Petocz said that as a gay student himself, books like All Boys Aren't Blue are critical for youth.[5] He highlighted that it felt discriminatory against the LGBTQ+ community and books that don't have his community's representation are rarely challenged.

In an MSNBC interview with Katy Tur, Petocz stated that LGBTQ+ communities are further marginalized by school boards that police education, and the efforts to remove these books from the classroom is an attempt to erase identities as a whole.[11]

Recall FCSB

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After being silenced at meetings, Petocz founded Recall FCSB.[citation needed] The group is a student-led organization working toward empowering youth to act and vote against bigotry which they believe to be rampant within the Flagler County School Board. Its social media accounts were created on November 11, 2021.[11]

Student walkout protest of the "Don't Say Gay" bill

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On March 3, 2022, at age 17, Petocz planned a pre-approved rally and "Say Gay" walkout at Flagler Palm Coast High School in opposition to the "Don't Say Gay" bill.[13] Over 500 of the school's students attended the protest as well as thousands of others statewide.[citation needed] The law, HB 1557, officially entitled "Parental Rights in Education," prohibits discussion of gender identity and sexual orientation in public classrooms in kindergarten through third grade and only when age-appropriate in higher grades.[14]

Petocz obtained administrative permission to host the walkout but was later suspended for his actions as leader of the rally when he distributed pride flags which school officials said violated the school's code of conduct.[15] A change.org petition to overturn Petocz's administrative removal resulted in over 7,000 signatures[16] when Principal Greg Schwartz elected to rescind the suspension.[17]

Petocz then wrote a letter to Governor Ron DeSantis in response to the bill's progression, requesting a meeting to discuss the potential impact of the GOP legislation and agenda.[18]

Gen-Z for Change

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Petocz is also a strategist associate for Gen-Z for Change, a coalition of more than 500 creators and activists fighting for progressive change to promote civil discourse and political action among the generation.[1]

Vanderbilt University

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As a first-year student at Vanderbilt University, Petocz participated in a sit-in protest at Kirkland Hall over the students' ability to vote on the adoption of a Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions amendment to the constitution of the student government. As the sit-in was broken up by university police on March 27, 2024, Petocz was arrested. He was one of three students charged with assault and bodily injury to another following an incident with a Vanderbilt University police officer.[19][20] Following a preliminary hearing by the university, he was among three students to be expelled.[21]

Personal life

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Petocz is openly gay.[2] He is a participant at PEN America's Free Speech Advocacy Institute[3] and was a recipient of the PEN America/Benenson Freedom of Expression Courage Award in 2022.[3]

References

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  1. ^ a b "Gen-Z for Change - About Us". February 7, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  2. ^ a b Padgett, Donald (May 19, 2022). "Gay Florida Student Who Led Protest Can't Run for Class President". Yahoo! News. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  3. ^ a b c "PEN America to Honor Florida High School Activist Jack Petocz for Organizing Book Ban and 'Don't Say Gay' Protests Statewide". PEN America. April 27, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  4. ^ a b c "An FPC Student's Perspective: Time to Rethink Inequitable and Irrational Dress Code in Flagler Schools". FlaglerLive. August 23, 2021. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  5. ^ a b c d Harris, Elizabeth A.; Alter, Alexandra (January 30, 2022). "Book Ban Efforts Spread Across the U.S." The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  6. ^ "'You're just erasing identities as a whole' Student and Author on the impact of book bans". MSNBC.com. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  7. ^ Jack Petocz [@Jack_Petocz] (September 8, 2022). "18! :) Watch out @GovRonDeSantis, I'm of voting age. 😉" (Tweet). Retrieved February 27, 2023 – via Twitter.
  8. ^ Ryan, Shaun. "Rymfire student group welcomes newcomers to school". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  9. ^ "Flagler Schools Future Problem Solvers earn six awards at International Conference | Palm Coast". Palm Coast Observer. June 10, 2018. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  10. ^ FlaglerLive (March 8, 2022). "A Storied Gay-Pride Flag Doubles Down Outside FPC as Veterans Lead Protest of Student Leader's Suspension". FlaglerLive. Retrieved February 27, 2023.
  11. ^ a b c Ross, Nikki. "5 things to know about Jack Petocz, Flagler student suspended for handing out pride flags". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  12. ^ Flaglerlive (January 31, 2022). "FPC's Jack Petocz Is Featured at Length in Page One New York Times Story on Schools' Book Bans". FlaglerLive. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  13. ^ Belle, Elly (June 13, 2022). "Jack Petocz Is Organizing Florida's Youth in the Fight Against Hatred". Teen Vogue.
  14. ^ Morgan, Issac (March 28, 2022). "'Parental Rights in Education' bill signing inspires protests from LGBTQ people, allies". Florida Phoenix. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  15. ^ "Student says he was suspended for passing out pride flags during 'Don't Say Gay' walkout". WKRC. March 5, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  16. ^ "Palm Coast student who organized protest of Florida's HB 1557 bill reinstated after petition". March 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  17. ^ "Student walk-out organizer Jack Petocz back at school | Palm Coast". Palm Coast Observer. March 9, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  18. ^ "Flagler student activist Jack Petocz writes a letter to Gov. DeSantis, wants to talk about 'Don't Say Gay' bill | Palm Coast". Palm Coast Observer. March 8, 2022. Retrieved May 10, 2022.
  19. ^ Lele, Aaditi (March 27, 2024). "BREAKING: Students forced to exit Kirkland Hall, three arrested and 16 suspended". The Vanderbilt Hustler.
  20. ^ McGee, Nikki (March 27, 2024). "Vanderbilt students, Nashville Scene reporter arrested during sit-in". WKRN. Retrieved April 7, 2024.
  21. ^ Ratangee, Brina (April 6, 2024). "Three students expelled following Student Accountability hearings, faculty criticize university response". Vanderbilt Hustler.
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