May 11th, 2010
Posted by Julia Harumi Mass, ACLU of Northern California at 3:49pm	Censorship, Student Speech

Students' American Flag T-Shirts Are Protected Speech

Last week, five students at Live Oak High School in Morgan Hill, Calif., were sent home on Cinco de Mayo for wearing T-shirts bearing the American flag. The students were reportedly sent home after Vice Principal Miguel Rodriguez told them the shirts posed a "safety issue" on a day celebrating Mexican heritage.

Punishing students for wearing T-shirts with the American flag is a clear violation of their free speech rights. The ACLU of Northern California responded to the incident by sending a letter (PDF) to Morgan Hill Schools Superintendant Dr. Wesley Smith, reminding him of the speech rights students are entitled to under the U.S. Constitution and California law.

The letter points out that students' wearing of the American flag wouldn't have been controversial but for the interest of other students in celebrating their Mexican heritage on Cinco de Mayo. The students' patriotic display was particularly meaningful because of the context, and their right to express their patriotism in light of that context must be honored. The right to wear an American flag every day but Cinco de Mayo would do little to advance the important work of the First Amendment, whose protections must be enforced every day.

There is another important lesson for the school here. For displays of the American flag to create such a strong concern about disruption, it's likely the school has underlying racial and cultural tensions that need attention. Using censorship to suppress student speech is exactly the wrong thing to do in this kind of situation. While the school superintendent did make a statement reaffirming the school district's support for students' speech rights, it's also important that the Live Oak teachers and administrators use this incident as an opportunity to teach students tolerance, diversity and mutual respect.

Permalink |	Censorship, Student Speech

1. Don Edwards Says:
   May 12th, 2010 at 6:09am

   a latino principal barring students from wearing an American flag on a day students are celebrating Cinco de MAYO?

   Fire the principal and check for green cards!

2. Anonymous Says:
   May 12th, 2010 at 9:58am

   it's about time the ACLU did something i can support....yayyyyyyy AMERICA

3. Maggie Says:
   May 13th, 2010 at 6:09pm

   I am very impressed. Thank you

4. Anonymous Says:
   May 15th, 2010 at 4:29pm

   wow! shades of the old ACLU i supported 30 years ago.

5. Donavan Says:
   May 16th, 2010 at 4:59pm

   I am of Mexican heritage, but I am also a proud American. Patriotism is always in fashion.

6. Charlie Says:
   May 21st, 2010 at 10:12am

   This is wrong this is america the United States Flag there is nothing wrong with the Flag, don't like it leave go somewhere else

7. Josh McCollum Says:
   May 21st, 2010 at 7:17pm

   This article was helpful for me in a research project concerning free speech rights. Thanks ACLU, keep it up!

8. abcdefghijklmnopqrst Says:
   May 26th, 2010 at 12:05pm

   goooo AMERICAN! WHOOOO! AYE AYE AYE AYE!!!!!

9. Wesley LH Says:
   May 27th, 2010 at 10:21pm

   I am actually impressed this time ACLU.
   Good job on this one.

10. Anonymous Says:
    Jun 4th, 2010 at 6:54am

    This is why i support the Arizona bill 100%

11. Anonymous Says:
    Jun 26th, 2010 at 6:27pm

    Why wasnt this all over the news? The ACLU would have been on every station if this happened to the mexican kids.