MESA, Ariz. -- A school policy banning student hugging prompted dozens of east Valley students to protest with a giant group hug across the street from campus. "I think it's ridiculous," said Chelsea Branham, a 14-year-old student at Shepherd Junior High School in east Mesa.
Branham said she got detention this week for hugging her friend after school "It's not like it's supposed to mean anything," she said. "It's not like I was making out with him or something."
Branham joined her classmates on Friday for a 20-minute, public hug-a-thon.
"She's taking a stand and I'm standing behind her to do it," said Stephanie Wiegold, her mother.
The "no-hugging" rule had previously been in the student handbook. After many students began expressing concern about public hugging and kissing in the hallways, the school began reinforcing the guideline by punishing huggers, which led to Friday's protest.
Prior to the demonstration, the district said the principal and students brokered an agreement to clarify the "no-hugging" rule. According to the guidelines, small hugs, less than two seconds, are permitted but longer ones and kissing are not.
"We can only hug two seconds? That's ridiculous," Branham said. "It's barely even a hug."
"What we're doing here is hoping to help kids understand what's happening," said Kathy Bareiss of Mesa public schools.
The district said a list of acceptable and non-acceptable behaviors will be handed out to students on Monday.
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