Pregnant May Queen Suspended From School for Protest Role
DAYTON, Ore. — A pregnant 17-year-old senior was crowned May Day queen of her high school, but she and 44 other students were suspended from classes today for protesting limits placed on her royal duties.
“I know there are people out there tonight who feel strongly against me being up here, and I never thought such a big issue would be raised about it,” AnnaMaria DeVries said at her coronation Thursday night.
“Some people are saying that I have no morals, but those people don’t realize I could have taken an easier way out,” she added.
The Dayton Junior-Senior High School’s student body elected DeVries queen last month. DeVries, who is nearly six months pregnant, says she plans to marry and keep the baby.
There were no protests at the ceremony in the school gymnasium in this farming town of 1,470.
“Everything went very well,” Principal Tom Gallagher said. “She gave a very classy speech.”
On Wednesday, school officials suspended 45 students who protested limits placed on DeVries’ reign because of her pregnancy.
The May Day queen traditionally visits Dayton Grade School the day after her coronation. But after receiving complaints this year, Gallagher canceled the visit.
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