So many girls, their families and alumni took to the front of their Wilmington Catholic high school Monday morning that police had to shut down the street.
Most of the demonstrators wore pink as they peacefully gathered in front of Padua Academy on North Broom Street in support of fired principal Cindy Mann around 8 a.m. Monday.
The event was dubbed as "Pink Shoe Power" walkout in honor of the pink shoes Mann says she wears as a sign of female empowerment. Some of the girls held signs in support of Mann who was abruptly removed Friday for "insubordination." Supporters claim Mann was fired because she refused to hike tuition to support the neighboring St. Anthony of Padua Parish.
She was the head of school at Padua since the 2009-10 school year.
Police closed the 900 block of North Broom Street in front of the all-girls school around 9 a.m.
No word on when the demonstration may wrap up but some of the protesters vow to remain outside throughout the day. At 1 p.m. the students plan to make the 15-minute walk to the Diocese of Wilmington.
Students wanted to let Mann she means as much to them as they mean to her.
"She treats every one of us as her own grandchild, she is so caring, she know each of us by name and I don't think a lot of schools can say that about their principal, student Elizabeth Onesi said outside the school Monday.
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To this point, the diocese says the decision to fire Mann was made by St. Anthony of Padua Parish and that it would be inappropriate to comment on the specifics of a parish school personnel matter.
"However, we are confident that Saint Anthony of Padua and Padua Academy leadership will continue to provide a Christ-centered educational experience to their students during this time of transition, and into the future," diocese spokesman Robert Krebs said.
Monday's demonstration followed similar protests outside Sunday Mass.
