Four more students suspended for wearing Confederate flags

al.com ^ | 10/18/01 | ap

[shuckmaster]

MOULTON, Ala. (AP) -- Four more students were suspended Wednesday from two Lawrence County schools for defying dress codes by wearing Confederate flags on their clothing.

The suspensions came as 15 other students at Lawrence County High School in northwest Alabama finished three-day suspensions imposed Monday when they showed up with Confederate flag clothing in defiance of a rule instituted by Principal Ricky Nichols on Friday.

One student at Lawrence County High School was given a three-day suspension for defying the rule, Nichols said. At Speake School, a third-grader, fifth-grader and eighth-grader were sent home for one-day suspensions Wednesday for wearing T-shirts with rebel flags, Principal Earl Leonard said.

Leonard said the students got opportunities to change into other T-shirts or turn theirs inside out. He said their parents chose to take the children home.

Nichols, in his first year at Lawrence County High School, said that since the fall term began he has been reassuring minority students and parents that there was nothing to fear from children wearing clothes with depictions of Confederate flags.

But Nichols instituted the new rule after racial slurs were used in two incidents last week.

Suspended Lawrence County High School students and parents said the shirts are a display of Southern heritage and had nothing to do with race.

[billbears]

And the chant begins. Come on everybody!! EMPIRE!! EMPIRE!! EMPIRE!!

God forbid these young men and women of the South actually remember the words written into the Constitution instead of the ones implied into it by the likes of the Great Tyrant, FDR, and Slick Willie

[PistolPaknMama]

drop those kids over Afghanistan if they hate our country so much.

Say what? I didn't see this in the article anywhere. Did it say the kids hate America or did you just make it up?

[Arthur Wildfire! March]

I'm glad to see scrappy kids stand up to them. I'd prefer religious tee-shirts or American flag tee-shirts, but whatever turns their crank.

I wonder if they would ban "Black Panther" tee shirts?

[shuckmaster]

ping...

[Delta 21]

Amendment I

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.

Delta 21

[John R. (Bob) Locke]

I wonder if this enlightened principal ever suspended anyone for wearing t-shirts sporting "It's a black thing. You wouldn't understand."

My bet is NO.

[Twodees]

You could never be just like us, boy. You're not even an American.

[shiva]

To gunnedah I say AMEN!!!!!!!

[casings]

They have a pride in their regional flag and rightfully so wether you agree with it or not.

I would rather have them coverinng my back in battle than you. Why do you people want to strip them of their history? The North also has a checkered past relative to race relations. At least, the South were honest and up front about it.
Good God. Get the beam out of your own eye before you criticize others.

[Hoosier]

Makes me proud to see American children doing what is right rather than what is demanded. This is far better than regurgitating the leftist and envirowacko bs that they are fed daily. We ought to start a t-shirt fund for them or chip in and get each of them a nice 3' x 5' Confederate flag or something useful to encourage more kids to do the same. Though I am not Southron by birth, I do share the same ideals of liberty and I certainly support passing those same ideals on to the children of America, both Southron and Northern.

[smolensk]

I think that this school needs some diversity training. It would help them to understand the word 'tolerance' of others' views, culture, and heritage. My company is undergoing this now. What good is diversity if the goal is for everyone to be the same. Seems like an oxymoron to me.

[pkmaine]

"Public School"---are people still sending kids to those places?

[Constitution Day]

TELL IT, my brotha!!!

[HELLRAISER II]

Now wait a minute, I'm just as Patriotic as the next guy I even have an Old Glory Lapel pin on as we speak. But I am also a Devout Southern Rebel flag flying enthusiast. We have College Professors & our own people saying we deserved to be bombed because of our involvement in the Middle East & you think that kids wearing a Rebel Flag T-shirt need to be sent to Afghanistan because of this. Your the one that needs to think about your Patriotism not these kids. As a Confederate Flag supporter I might clue you in on the fact that it is a Southern pride thing, not an I hate America thing as a matter of fact until recently when our so called nutless legislature changed it, it was our state flag in Georgia. My point is, rethink your position you are wrong.

[wita]

When I was attending high school in Montgomery, Alabama in the late fifties, one of the slogans of the time, was, "save your Confederate money boys, the South will rise again". A slogan that probably goes a lot further back than the fifties. Hats shaped like Confederate uniform caps of the 1860's were worn by many students, and although the Confederate battle flag was not flown on school grounds, a great many people had it on hats, jackets, cars, book covers, etc etc. My how the times do change, or is it people who think they can change time. Ah well, misery loves controversy.

Anyone familiar with Montgomery of the fifties, knows there were only two public high schools, separated by a color barrier, that has changed, as have a lot of other things. All of this assumes, that my memory is correct.

[angry beaver norbert]

I have Old Glory on my lawn, and the Confederate flag on the wall over my computer.To my left, in a cabinet, is a Southern Cross of Honor that a relative long ago fought for. I LOVE AMERICA, and would give my life to defend it. I am an 'Equal Freedom Confederate American', and as such I am highly offended by intolerance of my Confederate heritage, and the assumtion that we are any less patriotic than anyone else. Note the city of Berkley,Ca. They sure ain't from around here.

[HELLRAISER II]

I'm one of these people your talking about and I work in a Bank, I live in a 3000 Square Ft house with a Pool. There is nothing in my front yard except 150 acres of Ranch and I own 5 vehicles all of which run & look good. If that makes me a Redneck, hell I can live with it & be proud of me, my flag & my Confederate heritage.