SCHOOL CAN BAN US FLAG SHIRTS FOR SAFETY

[Jazzy]

Officials at a Northern California high school acted appropriately when they ordered students wearing American flag T-shirts to turn the garments inside out during the Mexican heritage celebration Cinco de Mayo, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

The 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals said the officials' concerns of racial violence outweighed students' freedom of expression rights. Administrators feared the American-flag shirts would enflame the passions of Latino students celebrating the Mexican holiday. Live Oak High School, in the San Jose suburb of Morgan Hill, had a history of problems between white and Latino students on that day.

The unanimous three-judge panel said past problems gave school officials sufficient and justifiable reasons for their actions. The court said schools have wide latitude in curbing certain civil rights to ensure campus safety.

"Our role is not to second-guess the decision to have a Cinco de Mayo celebration or the precautions put in place to avoid violence," Judge M. Margaret McKeown wrote for the panel. The past events "made it reasonable for school officials to proceed as though the threat of a potentially violent disturbance was real," she wrote.

The case garnered national attention as many expressed outrage that students were barred from wearing patriotic clothing. The Ann Arbor, Mich.-based American Freedom Law Center, a politically conservative legal aid foundation, and other similar organizations took up the students' case and sued the high school and the school district.

William Becker, one of the lawyers representing the students, said he plans to ask a special 11-judge panel of the appeals court to rehear the case. Becker said he would appeal to the U.S. Supreme Court if he loses again.

"The 9th Circuit upheld the rights of Mexican students celebrating a holiday of another country over U.S. student proudly supporting this country," Becker said.

Source

How do you feel about this court ruling?

 

[TimeRider]

I think it's right at some extend because it doesn't have to be all American students reading at a particular school. This can be little bit offensive so I think it's good decision.

 

[Jazzy]

Officials at a Northern California high school acted appropriately when they ordered students wearing American flag T-shirts to turn the garments inside out during the Mexican heritage celebration Cinco de Mayo, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

Last I knew, Northern California is in the United States and not in Mexico. Am I wrong?

 

[DrLeftover]

I wish somebody would take the time to explain to me how a national flag can be offensive when it is displayed within the boundaries of the nation it represents.

 

[gaze-universe]

I don't understand the banning of wearing home country's flag designed clothes regardless of other citizens that have roots elsewhere. Sounds weird to me.. :\

 

[DrLeftover]

The only people it probably offends are the elected members of the school board and the various administrators they appointed.

Now as to how many of those are Liberal Democrats, I'll let you guess for yourself.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Fricken insanity of a ruling. But by God if they were wearing Mexican flags I bet you couldnt trample on there rights if Americans were offended. This will go to the Supreme Court. The 9th court is a bunch of liberal lunatics.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

Officials at a Northern California high school acted appropriately when they ordered students wearing American flag T-shirts to turn the garments inside out during the Mexican heritage celebration Cinco de Mayo, a federal appeals court ruled Thursday.

Last I knew, Northern California is in the United States and not in Mexico. Am I wrong?

Kalifornia stopped being America a few decades ago.

 

[Evil Eye]

The only people it probably offends are the elected members of the school board and the various administrators they appointed.

And, quite possibly, nationalistic gang members. (That aren't nationalistic about the US, obviously.)

Nonetheless, I'd say the focus should be on solving that problem (i.e.: violence) rather than making people wear their clothes inside out. If you can't feel safe wearing whatever you want in public, that's a problem.

 

[WHO IS SERAFIN]

The left's new slogan can be burn it but don't wear it.