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Teen Christopher Hartless leaves his Virginia school after he was told to remove American flags from his truck
Daily Mail UK ^ | August 24, 2023 | Hope Sloop

Posted on 08/24/2023 12:06:25 AM PDT by Morgana

A teen in Virginia has chosen to become homeschooled after high school officials demanded he remove two American flags from his truck.

Christopher Hartless believes he is exercising his First Amendment right by flying the flag on his property and said he has no intention of taking down the display.

'My family fought for America, and I feel like I should be able to represent the flags that they fought for,' Christopher said in an interview with Fox 19 in Virginia.

Christina Kingery, Christopher's stepmom, said officials at Staunton River High School told him the flags - mounted to the back of the truck - are a distraction.

In a statement to local media, a school representative said that the student parking contract explicitly bans all flags and banners on vehicles for safety reasons.

He told ABC 13 he refuses to take the flags down and he doesn't comprehend how it could be perceived as distracting.

'I don't understand how it's distracting if they have one on the flagpole that every other student can see,' Christopher said.

Kingery said his mom had his back after he told her about the issue.

'I told my son if this is what he's believing in, then we are both going to stand behind him all the way,' Kingery said.

After his first warning, the school told him again the patriotic displays needed to come down or else.

Christopher again refused and the school revoked his 2023 parking pass.

Kingery told local media that she didn't want him riding the bus for unspecified reasons. As a result of the disagreement, the family decided to turn to homeschooling.

'If they're willing to change and let kids want to fly the American flag, then I'll put him back in school,' Kingery said.

(Excerpt) Read more at dailymail.co.uk ...


TOPICS: Education
KEYWORDS: arth; education; virginia
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All rise for our National Anthem.

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,

What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,

Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight

O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?

And the rocket’s red glare, the bombs bursting in air,

Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,

O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave

O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

1 posted on 08/24/2023 12:06:25 AM PDT by Morgana
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To: Morgana

Could this really hold uo in court?


2 posted on 08/24/2023 1:11:33 AM PDT by nickcarraway
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To: nickcarraway

Depends. Are all flags banned, or just patriotic ones? What does the school’s speech code specify? Is the judge a rabid Leftist?

All important questions.


3 posted on 08/24/2023 1:42:30 AM PDT by Tacrolimus1mg (Do no harm, but take no sh!t.)
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To: nickcarraway

Once you reach a point where you need a ‘pass’ to park your vehicle on school grounds...they have absolute control.


4 posted on 08/24/2023 1:44:29 AM PDT by pepsionice
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To: Morgana

Rainbow flag — Mandatory
American flag — Banned

Funding — your tax dollars


5 posted on 08/24/2023 2:27:49 AM PDT by ClearCase_guy (They say "Our Democracy" but they mean Cosa Nostra.)
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To: nickcarraway

If the “no flags” rule was presented in writing as part of the process to obtain a parking permit, and he signed it, then he cannot fly any flag on his vehicle if he parks it in the school lot.


6 posted on 08/24/2023 2:49:32 AM PDT by Andy from Chapel Hill (Wind energy windmills remove the energy from the wind, which causes global warming.)
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To: Andy from Chapel Hill

Any such rule can be challenged. All such I.e. for a valid stated reason. And because it is a restriction on speech it is subject to heightened scrutiny.


7 posted on 08/24/2023 2:55:11 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: Andy from Chapel Hill

Any such rule can be challenged. All such rules must be reasonable I.e. for a valid stated reason. The rule must not violate law and the principal must have the authority to make the rule. And because it is a restriction on speech it is subject to heightened scrutiny.


8 posted on 08/24/2023 2:57:03 AM PDT by AndyJackson
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To: Morgana

Bttt


9 posted on 08/24/2023 3:49:55 AM PDT by Guenevere (“If the foundations are destroyed, what can the righteous do?”)
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To: AndyJackson

If the district gets sued and plaintiff wins, the taxpayers take it the shorts, not the public employees responsible.

At least if parents pull their kids, the district employees will get to embrace the suck, too.


10 posted on 08/24/2023 3:52:38 AM PDT by mewzilla (We will never restore the republic if we don't first secure the ballot box.)
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To: Tacrolimus1mg

It says in the article all flags are banned in the parking lot.


11 posted on 08/24/2023 3:57:33 AM PDT by Jewbacca (The residents of Iroquois territory may not determine whether Jews may live in Jerusalem.)
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To: nickcarraway

I would sue to get all taxes back that fund this traitor school and to get reimbursed for home schooling.


12 posted on 08/24/2023 4:15:36 AM PDT by Cowgirl of Justice
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To: pepsionice
Once you reach a point where you need a ‘pass’ to park your vehicle on school grounds...they have absolute control.

Those have been around for at least as far back as the 70's when I was in high school.

13 posted on 08/24/2023 4:20:26 AM PDT by MD Expat in PA (No. I am not a doctor nor have I ever played one on TV. The MD in my screen name stands for Maryland)
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To: All

The H.S. parking pass form:

https://docs.google.com/document/d/1tWTrVleWaTFgKxBxYYyIqzQu8tA8WIpc9FOHyYLNCmI/edit#heading=h.gjdgxs


14 posted on 08/24/2023 4:24:02 AM PDT by Drago
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To: Drago

So, the key word in this contract is “LARGE” as in “Large Flags.”

What is “Large?”


15 posted on 08/24/2023 4:30:58 AM PDT by Andy from Chapel Hill (Wind energy windmills remove the energy from the wind, which causes global warming.)
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To: Drago
The H.S. parking pass form:

Seems pretty clear to me. As long as the policy was consistently applied to any and all flags and banners, he and his parents knew the rules when they signed for and paid for the pass.

16 posted on 08/24/2023 4:34:46 AM PDT by MD Expat in PA (No. I am not a doctor nor have I ever played one on TV. The MD in my screen name stands for Maryland)
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To: Tacrolimus1mg

School peeps have enough problems without having to “police” the flags in the parking lot.


17 posted on 08/24/2023 4:35:37 AM PDT by GAgal
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To: Andy from Chapel Hill; All

Well #16 is another “out” for the administration (regardless of “large”).

Around here the teen truck drivers use ~3’x5’ flags on their trucks. (USA, “USA thin blue line”, and Trump 2024). (And hang out at “Dutch Bros” on Friday/Sat night).


18 posted on 08/24/2023 4:37:56 AM PDT by Drago
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To: Morgana

I will guarantee that there are rainbow flags on vehicles and I would wager that they flew them or displayed rainbow flags during pervert pride month


19 posted on 08/24/2023 4:46:53 AM PDT by albie
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To: Morgana

The National Anthem.. There should be a law that says, when the Anthem is sang in public places (ballpark) all verses must be sung... The liberals would go into convulsions when they hear it... :)
It’s actully pretty tough to sing.... :(

O say can you see, by the dawn’s early light,
What so proudly we hail’d at the twilight’s last gleaming,
Whose broad stripes and bright stars through the perilous fight
O’er the ramparts we watch’d were so gallantly streaming?
And the rocket’s red glare, the bomb bursting in air,
Gave proof through the night that our flag was still there,
O say does that star-spangled banner yet wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave?

On the shore dimly seen through the mists of the deep
Where the foe’s haughty host in dread silence reposes,
What is that which the breeze, o’er the towering steep,
As it fitfully blows, half conceals, half discloses?
Now it catches the gleam of the morning’s first beam,
In full glory reflected now shines in the stream,
‘Tis the star-spangled banner - O long may it wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave!

And where is that band who so vauntingly swore,
That the havoc of war and the battle’s confusion
A home and a Country should leave us no more?
Their blood has wash’d out their foul footstep’s pollution.
No refuge could save the hireling and slave
From the terror of flight or the gloom of the grave,
And the star-spangled banner in triumph doth wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.

O thus be it ever when freemen shall stand
Between their lov’d home and the war’s desolation!
Blest with vict’ry and peace may the heav’n rescued land
Praise the power that hath made and preserv’d us a nation!
Then conquer we must, when our cause it is just,
And this be our motto - “In God is our trust,”
And the star-spangled banner in triumph shall wave
O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.


20 posted on 08/24/2023 4:47:09 AM PDT by unread (A wise man's heart inclines him to the right, but a fool's heart to the left ... ECC. 10:2)
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