A student at Edmond North High School was ordered to remove an American flag from his pickup truck because it violated school policy.
“I’ve been flying it for quite a while,” senior Caleb Horst told television station KOCO. “I’ve never really had problems with it before, and it’s our First Amendment, so it’s kind of hard for them to infringe upon our rights.”
Edmond Public Schools officials on Thursday released a statement defending their decision.
“It is the practice of Edmond Public Schools to not permit students to fly or bring flags of any kind on our school campuses. This practice has been in place for several years and is explained to our students at the start of the school year along with various other policies and procedures. This is designed to prevent disruptions and distractions during the school day. It is also done in an effort to provide a safe school environment as flying flags on vehicles creates safety issues in the parking lot as well as can cause damage to other vehicles,” Edmond Public School officials said.
“To be clear, this is not about the American flag or patriotism. Edmond Public Schools proudly displays the American flag prominently and in the proper, respectful way outside each of our buildings and in our classrooms. Not only do we recite the Pledge of Allegiance every morning as we start our school day, but we also present the colors and play the national anthem at most of our athletic events. All of these things are done in the proper fashion according to flag etiquette.”
Meanwhile, Horst said that a number of students at the school said they plan to protest by flying Old Glory on their cars and trucks.
“In the end, we’re all American, all united under that flag, and there’s not anything anyone can do to separate us,” Horst told KOCO.
Oklahoma Supt. Ryan Walters said he plans to investigate the school district.
“Patriotism should never be penalized at Oklahoma schools. Ever. EPS has a history of prioritizing woke agendas over our history and our freedoms. We will investigate and I will act,” the Republican wrote on X.
Veterans of Foreign Wars Post 4938 condemned the school district and called on officials to reverse the flag ban.
“We stand firmly by the flag and strongly oppose any stance that suggests it is inappropriate. We believe that those who find the display of the American flag intimidating should reassess their perspective and understand the flag’s profound significance to our nation,” the VFW wrote.
“We strongly urge Edmond Public Schools to reconsider their position and take immediate steps to rectify this situation. Issuing a public apology would be a meaningful first step in restoring the trust and respect of the community, reaffirming their commitment to the values that the American flag represents, they added.
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