Cameron Driggers
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Cameron Driggers | |
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| Born | 2004 (age 19–20) |
| Nationality | American |
| Alma mater | University of Florida |
| Occupation | Political Activist |
Cameron Driggers (Born 2004) is an American political activist. As an advocate for progressive politics and especially LGBTQ+ issues, Driggers has been a vocal student organizer within the state of Florida, where he took leading roles in demonstrations such as the 2022 school walkouts in response to the Florida Parental Rights in Education Act. Driggers continues to be a sharp critic of Florida Governor Ron Desantis, and has worked with organizations such as Equality Florida and Voters of Tomorrow to mobilize against his administration.[1] Driggers also publishes political commentary from outlets such as The Advocate[2] and The Washington Blade[3].
Personal Life
Driggers attended Rymfire Elementary School,[4] Indian Trails Middle School,[5] and Flagler Palm Coast High School.[6]
Driggers is currently an undergraduate student at the University of Florida.[7]
Activism
2022 School Walkouts
In protest of the Parental Rights In Education Act, often referred to by critics as the "Don't Say Gay Bill", Driggers worked with lead organizer Jack Petocz to organize a state-wide walkout of students at both high schools and colleges. Thousands of students participated in the walkout.[8] At their own high school, Flagler Palm Coast, over five-hundred students participated.[9] The school administration retaliated by suspending Petocz indefinitely.[9]
Following Petocz's suspension, Driggers organized a petition drive to demand his friend's reinstatement, which collected over 7,500 signatures[10]. Furthermore, Driggers also organized a consecutive protest outside of Flagler Palm-Coast High School with the help of a LGBTQ+ Veterans group which featured "Section 93 of the Key West Sea to Sea Flag, a flag once reputed to be the longest on the planet–1.25 miles".[11][12]
School Board Protests and Campaigns
Driggers' school district in Flagler County, Florida, faced national backlash after a sitting school board member filed a police report on district employees over the inclusion of certain pieces of literature within school libraries.[13] The premise of the police report was that the literature in question, of which the content was primarily centered on LGBTQ+ experiences and other social issues, was too inappropriate for students.[13] In response, Driggers helped execute a protest at the grounds of his school board which involved distributing the books in contention. During the demonstration, student protestors clashed with followers of a far-right militia group known as the Three Percenters.[14]
In following months, Driggers led a student-led campaign to replace incumbent school board members endorsed by Governor Ron Desantis.[15] Driggers, alongside his volunteers, engaged in a months-long endeavor to elect LGBTQ+ allies in their place through grassroots campaigning. Driggers' initiative garnered national coverage after both of its endorsed candidates prevailed on the August primary, with one winning outright and another advancing to the general election.[16][17]
2023 School Walkouts
Driggers worked alongside fellow LGBTQ+ activist Zander Moricz to organize a state-wide school walkout on April 24th, 2023.[18][19] The walkout included participants at over 300 hundred high schools within Florida.[18] Driggers also spoke at subsequent rally at Orlando City Hall following the walkout alongside State Representative Anna Eskamani, Jack Petocz and others.[20]
References
- ↑ Nast, Condé (2023-07-06). "Florida Teens Are Doing Whatever They Can to Stop DeSantis 2024". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ "What It's Like to Be an LGBTQ+ High Schooler in DeSantis's Florida". www.advocate.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ Driggers, Cameron (2023-08-28). "School boards are the battlefield for LGBTQ+ Rights". www.washingtonblade.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ Ryan, Shaun. "Rymfire student group welcomes newcomers to school". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ Ryan, Shaun. "Students speak out at Flagler Beach town hall meeting". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ McLean, Joe (2022-03-03). "Students across Florida stage walkouts in protest of 'Don't Say Gay' legislation". WJXT. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ Alonso, Johanna. "Florida's LGBTQ+ College Students Face a Tough Choice: Stay or Go?". Inside Higher Ed. Retrieved 2023-08-31.
- ↑ "Florida students stage school walkouts over 'Don't Say Gay' bill". NBC News. 2022-03-03. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ 9.0 9.1 Ross, Nikki. "Student organizer of FL's 'Don't Say Gay' school walkout suspended from Flagler school". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ Call, Nikki Ross and James. "FPCHS junior Jack Petocz allowed back in school following 'Say Gay' walkout". Daytona Beach News-Journal Online. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ FlaglerLive (2022-03-08). "A Storied Gay-Pride Flag Doubles Down Outside FPC as Veterans Lead Protest of Student Leader's Suspension". FlaglerLive. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ Levesque, Brody (2022-03-10). ""The Kids Are Alright," gay vets & Gen Z take on Florida's anti-LGBTQ+ law". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ 13.0 13.1 Chavez, Nicole (2021-11-17). "A Florida school board member filed a criminal complaint over a Black queer memoir". CNN. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ FlaglerLive (2021-11-17). "Student Protesters Face Hail of Vile Obscenities, Taunts and Threats From Group Claiming to Speak For Children". FlaglerLive. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ Kane, Christopher (2022-08-05). "Youth activists organize 'Recall Flagler County School Board' & campaign". Los Angeles Blade: LGBTQ News, Rights, Politics, Entertainment. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ Kane, Christopher (2022-08-26). "Fla. student activists oust anti-LGBTQ school board members". www.washingtonblade.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ Villarreal, Daniel (2022-08-26). "Florida teens successfully ousted two anti-LGBTQ "lunatics" from a local school board". LGBTQ Nation. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ 18.0 18.1 Nast, Condé (2023-04-20). "Florida Students Are Taking Their Education Into Their Own Hands". Teen Vogue. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ "Tampa Bay students walk out in protest of state education policies". Tampa Bay Times. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
- ↑ "Orlando residents rally against LGBTQ legislation". mynews13.com. Retrieved 2023-09-01.
External links
This article "Cameron Driggers" is from Wikipedia. The list of its authors can be seen in its historical. Articles taken from Draft Namespace on Wikipedia could be accessed on Wikipedia's Draft Namespace.