Confederate flag controversy brews at Bloomington school (Minnesota)

KAAL-TV ^ | June 4, 2008 | Justin Piehowski

[Colonel Kangaroo]

Three seniors at Bloomington Kennedy High School will not be allowed to walk in their graduation ceremony after driving to school with confederate flags flying from their trucks.

Seventy-five other students showed up at the school Wednesday morning to protest the action taken by the school against Justin Thompson, Joey Snyder and another student.

"I figured, you know, we’re seniors, it’s the last day of school…we didn’t mean any offense by it," Thompson said.

Added Snyder: "We didn’t look at it as racist or anything."

But school officials feel that flying a confederate flag violates the school’s student conduct policy. The students have been suspended from all school-sponsored activities.

"We are responsible for the 2,000-plus students that attend this school," said Rick Kaufman, of Bloomington Public Schools. "The very nature of what they did had the potential to create a very serious situation."

Students disagreed.

"They weren’t trying to hurt anybody, they just had it on their cars. It’s just freedom of speech" said Landin Lind, one of 75 students who chanted ‘Let Them Walk’ at the school Wednesday morning.

"I feel it was a racist move, but I feel that they were just kidding around," added student James Granberry, who supports the students. "I didn’t really take offense to it."

School officials added that they’ve dealt with some racism issues at the school recently, which is why they are taking the incident so seriously.

All three students will still receive their diplomas.

[Non-Sequitur]

Did I pass?

[WVKayaker]

They knew it would be found offensive, and they decided to rankle some feathers.

What a stupid move. They should have known there are plenty of bigots around. If you don't think so, just read this thread. The hostility is palpable...

What part of the 1st Amendment did these young'n's break?

[StoneWall Brigade]

I wasn't giving you the 3rd degree that's between you and SW. I was just wondering as to what sources was used when writing the book was all.

[MinnesotaLibertarian]

If you’re referring to the open hatred of “Yankees” by some Southerners on this thread, then yes, I agree.

I actually said pretty explicitly that freedom of speech does allow one to fly the Confederate flag. I just have a personal opposition to it and I question the intentions of many who do, such as these teenagers in suburban Minnesota. I’m grew up one town over, so something tells me I know the area and its people better than you. The Confederate flag is used for shock value around here, nothing else.