Schools Ban Patriotic Clothes, Flags
NBC San Diego, April 3, 2006
SAN DIEGO — In the wake of last week’s immigration-reform protests, one school district is taking drastic measures, banning all symbols of patriotism, both U.S. and Mexican.
Beginning Monday, the Oceanside Unified School District is banning all flags and patriotic clothing. According to school officials, some students are using the garments and flags to taunt classmates.
Some critics of the move are calling it a violation of free speech protections guaranteed by the Constitution.
{snip}
School officials in Oceanside now say that flags — whether they are U.S. or Mexican or any other country’s — have now become a divider on campuses, saying that some students are using them to taunt other students.
{snip}
School officials are saying that the ban is just temporary and that they were just trying to prevent violence. They would not say how long the ban would be in effect.
