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Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees - TypesWithFist - 05-06-2010
Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees
Freedom of expression or cultural disrespect on Cinco de Mayo?
By GEORGE KIRIYAMA
Updated 6:26 AM PDT, Thu, May 6, 2010
NBC Bay Area
On any other day at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Daniel Galli and his four friends would not even be noticed for wearing T-shirts with the American flag. But Cinco de Mayo is not any typical day especially on a campus with a large Mexican American student population.
Galli says he and his friends were sitting at a table during brunch break when the vice principal asked two of the boys to remove American flag bandannas that they wearing on their heads and for the others to turn their American flag T-shirts inside out. When they refused, the boys were ordered to go to the principal's office.
"They said we could wear it on any other day," Daniel Galli said, "but today is sensitive to Mexican-Americans because it's supposed to be their holiday so we were not allowed to wear it today."
The boys said the administrators called their T-shirts "incendiary" that would lead to fights on campus.
Student Told Cinco de Mayo Is Not the Day for Patriotism
"They said if we tried to go back to class with our shirts not taken off, they said it was defiance and we would get suspended," Dominic Maciel, Galli's friend, said.
The boys really had no choice, and went home to avoid suspension. They say they're angry they were not allowed to express their American pride. Their parents are just as upset, calling what happened to their children, "total nonsense."
"I think it's absolutely ridiculous," Julie Fagerstrom, Maciel's mom, said. "All they were doing was displaying their patriotic nature. They're expressing their individuality."
But to many Mexican-American students at Live Oak, this was a big deal. They say they were offended by the five boys and others for wearing American colors on a Mexican holiday.
"I think they should apologize cause it is a Mexican Heritage Day," Annicia Nunez, a Live Oak High student, said. "We don't deserve to be get disrespected like that. We wouldn't do that on Fourth of July."
As for an apology, the boys and their families say, "fat chance."
"I'm not going to apologize. I did nothing wrong," Galli said. "I went along with my normal day. I might have worn an American flag, but I'm an American and I'm proud to be an American."
The five boys and their families met with a Morgan Hill Unified School District official Wednesday night. The district released a statement saying it does not agree with how Live Oak High School administrators handled this incident.
The boys will not be suspended and they were told they can go back to school Thursday. They may even wear their red, white, and blue colors again, but this time, the day after Cinco de Mayo, there will be no controversy.
Re: Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees - gmg77 - 05-06-2010
Im not offended. This is ridiculous, but maybe there was some other offense or context. From another article
Quote: other students were wearing American flags
![[Image: el31c2.jpg]](http://i40.tinypic.com/el31c2.jpg)
In another 1st amendment story closer to home a lady jailed for an offensive t-shirt. ==>LINK<==
Re: Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees - goodintentions - 05-06-2010
OMG people - wake up. This has to stop.
Re: Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees - Blackdiamond - 05-06-2010
Did I read somewhere that flag burning was OK? You just can't wear it on a shirt, etc.? ENOUGH IS ENOUGH :cry:
Re: Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees - ReggieMay - 05-08-2010
I've heard rumors that students at Zion HS were not allowed to wear flag shirts on 5/6. Any truth to the rumor?
Re: Students Kicked Off Campus for Wearing American Flag Tees - NiuMilhouse - 05-10-2010
This is ridiculous. The students were wearing bandanas. As far as I can recall your not allowed to wear hats/head coverings in public schools. I'm sure there is more to this story than what is being told. Anyhow, for once these kids get to feel what others in this country feel all the time.