Students Protest: Bring Back Deputy Fired After Rough Classroom Arrest

A twist in the story of the South Carolina school resource officer fired after a classroom arrest turned violent—and went viral: About 100 Spring Valley High School students peacefully walked out of class Friday morning and gathered in the school's atrium to show support for former deputy Ben Fields and ask that he be given his job back. The school principal called the protest "an orderly student-led activity" and noted, "I addressed the students to let them know that we understood their need to make their voices heard. Then I reminded them that Spring Valley high is all about the business of teaching and learning, so it’s time to go back to class." Within less than 10 minutes, the students peacefully went back to class, he said, per The State.

Students used the hashtags #BringFieldsBack and #BringBackFields to show support on social media, though not everyone who used the hashtags was supportive: "This whole #BringBackFields thing makes me think of the battered woman who wants her abusive husband back," one Twitter user chimed in. But WREG reports that the students supporting Fields insist he's "tough but fair." USA Today notes that Fields had also served as assistant coach for the school's football team. (More South Carolina stories.)