Post by KingOfPain on Nov 16th, 2010 at 12:29pm
School Backpedals on Bike's Flag Display
Updated: Friday, 12 Nov 2010, 7:49 PM CST
Published : Friday, 12 Nov 2010, 7:49 PM CST
(FOXNews.com) - A California school did a U-turn Friday after it earlier forced a student to remove an American flag attached to his bike, saying the Stars and Stripes could spur racial tensions on campus.
Cody Alicea,13, had been flying the flag on the back of his bicycle for almost two months to show support for veterans like his grandfather, Robert Alicea.
But just in time for Veterans Day, school officials at Denair Middle School told Cody he would no longer be allowed to display the flag, citing complaints from other students.
Now, after a public outcry, the school decided that the grand old flag can come back.
Superintendent Edward Parraz said the school was trying to avoid racial tensions that stemmed from a "little issue" that arose when Hispanic students brought Mexican flags to school on Cinco De Mayo ["fifth of May" which commemorates the May 5, 1862 victory of Mexican troops over French forces].
"That's when it all kind of started, and I think it carried through so that when Cody started doing his flag everybody said, 'well why isn't he getting in trouble?'" Parraz told KTXL-TV in Sacramento.
So the school asked Cody to remove the flag, both to keep the peace and for his own protection.
"It was a safety concern that that particular campus supervisor called at that particular time based on information she had heard," Parraz said.
Cody said he complied with the request to avoid trouble, but he asked the school to reconsider because he believed the decision was wrong.
"I'm supposed to be free in this country and I should be able to fly the flag wherever I want to," he said.
Apparently, he wasn't alone.
Parraz said the school got flooded with so many complaints from upset parents both inside and outside of Denair that he was called in to "handle the situation."
"It was crazy," he said.
Parraz said the school decided Friday to allow Cody to display his flag again, and would be shifting its focus to the students who complained.
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Interview with Cody
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Flag Removed: Interview with school Superintendent
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Updated: Friday, 12 Nov 2010, 7:49 PM CST
Published : Friday, 12 Nov 2010, 7:49 PM CST
(FOXNews.com) - A California school did a U-turn Friday after it earlier forced a student to remove an American flag attached to his bike, saying the Stars and Stripes could spur racial tensions on campus.
Cody Alicea,13, had been flying the flag on the back of his bicycle for almost two months to show support for veterans like his grandfather, Robert Alicea.
But just in time for Veterans Day, school officials at Denair Middle School told Cody he would no longer be allowed to display the flag, citing complaints from other students.
Now, after a public outcry, the school decided that the grand old flag can come back.
Superintendent Edward Parraz said the school was trying to avoid racial tensions that stemmed from a "little issue" that arose when Hispanic students brought Mexican flags to school on Cinco De Mayo ["fifth of May" which commemorates the May 5, 1862 victory of Mexican troops over French forces].
"That's when it all kind of started, and I think it carried through so that when Cody started doing his flag everybody said, 'well why isn't he getting in trouble?'" Parraz told KTXL-TV in Sacramento.
So the school asked Cody to remove the flag, both to keep the peace and for his own protection.
"It was a safety concern that that particular campus supervisor called at that particular time based on information she had heard," Parraz said.
Cody said he complied with the request to avoid trouble, but he asked the school to reconsider because he believed the decision was wrong.
"I'm supposed to be free in this country and I should be able to fly the flag wherever I want to," he said.
Apparently, he wasn't alone.
Parraz said the school got flooded with so many complaints from upset parents both inside and outside of Denair that he was called in to "handle the situation."
"It was crazy," he said.
Parraz said the school decided Friday to allow Cody to display his flag again, and would be shifting its focus to the students who complained.
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