Students of the 8th grade at Spry Middle School  in Webster NY were banned from using the word freedom and from wearing shirts bearing the word freedom at a school rally on march 4th , 2011 . Several weeks earlier students began organizing a protest campaign planning to shout the word " freedom " and wear shirts with the word freedom written across the front  at the upcoming rally. The protest was in support of a classmate who was suspended , arrested , and put on trial in town cout for having a small amount of marijuana . Just minutes before the rally , principal Dave Swinson took the entire 8th grade class aside and threatened them by saying anyone who says " free , freedom , free Paul , or rasta " or wears the t-shirts with freedom written across the front , will be removed from the rally , suspended , and face " further consequences ". Not to be defeated , the students wore the shirts anyway . They also planned a suprise for the rally . As each class was introduced , there was yelling and screaming , each class trying to out-shout the other . When it came time for the 8th grade the principal made the introduction , everyone awaited the loudest screams of all and ......TOTAL SILENCE ! With a " silent freedom scream " these adult-minded children showed child-like adults the failure of prohibition , the power of protest and the meaning of freedom . A week and a half later on March 15 units of the Webster police and the Monroe County sheriffs office entered Spry middle school , a "gun free zone " , heavily armed with batons , tasers , and loaded  handguns . There was no 911 call . There was no complaint . Students were held hostage , forced to remain in one place for almost an hour . Three german shepard police dogs were circulated throughout the hallways , barking aggressively and scaring the children in the classrooms , according to eyewitnesses . Several students were taken away for interrogation and physically searched by adults not related to them . No arrests were made . In a follow-up email principal Swinson  told parents of the traumatized children : " the drill went very well , as we expected . "