Maryland elementary students rally to pardon turkey ahead of Thanksgiving

BALTIMORE, MD.- A turkey in Maryland will live another day after he was pardoned from becoming part of Thanksgiving dinner. A group of elementary school students in Baltimore led the charge to “Save Ted.”

Students at Nicholas Sr. Elementary School say Ted deserves a seat at the table, not served up on a platter. The school invited Mayor Brandon Scott and Dr. Sonja Santelises, the CEO of Baltimore City Public Schools, to help make the final decision.

Danielle Adams, the elementary school’s Principal says, “The word in the kindergarten hall Dr. S., They are upset with you they know that you are still undecided on whether you will pardon Ted.”

Fifth graders at the school came up with arguments and information, protesting the saving of Turkey Ted. The entire school even signed a petition.

Je’mayaa Moore, a student at the school says, “I think we should pardon the turkey because they have families and they live on the farm and in the forest.” Moore offered turkey facts to help their case, saying “The female and the male birds talk differently. Also, turkeys are really large birds. Domestic turkeys are the eighth largest bird species by weight. Domesticated turkeys have been around for two thousand years.”

However, during the ceremony, Ted got a little frisky with his friends. Despite his crimes, Mayor Brandon Scott spoke up for the turkey as well saying, “We want to forgive Ted for all of his crimes, all of them, even those that he committed today in front of us all, everybody. Save Ted.”

At the end of the day, Dr. S. finally made her decision, saying, “I have decided along with the mayor I will have to get another turkey for Thanksgiving because we are going to pardon Ted.”