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Colorado 7th Grader Kicked Out Of Class For Gadsden Patch Because Of ‘Slavery’ Origins
Publisher's Note: This post appears here courtesy of the The Daily Wire. The author of this post is Mairead Elordi.
A Colorado middle-schooler was kicked out of class on Monday for wearing a patch of the Gadsden flag on his backpack.
Jaiden, a seventh grader at The Vanguard School, a charter school in Colorado Springs, was pulled from class on Monday after school staff noticed the Gadsden patch.
His mother came to the school with a younger child in tow to discuss the situation.
She was told that her son "needs to take that patch off" and that the Gadsden flag is not allowed in class because it has "origins with slavery" and the "slave trade," a video of the conversation shows.
"We can't have that in and around other kids," a woman who appears to be school staff tells Jaiden's mother in the video.
"It has nothing to do with slavery. That's the Revolutionary War patch that was displayed when they were fighting the British," the mother responds.
The Gadsden flag, a yellow flag depicting a coiled rattlesnake with the words "Don't Tread On Me," a warning to Britain, was flown during the Revolutionary War. The flag was designed in 1775 by U.S. brigadier general Christopher Gadsden, who critics have pointed out was a slave owner.
"She said I have to take it off. I don't understand. Why would I have to take off a patriotic symbol? It's just weird, it's kind of weird. I feel like she's infringing on my rights," Jaiden said in another video provided by his mother to The Daily Wire.
The school initially flagged Jaiden's patch in an email to his mother earlier this month and referred to a district policy banning items that "refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons," according to emails viewed by The Daily Wire.
On Friday, Vanguard School Executive Director Renee Henslee told Jaiden's mother in an email that they noticed his "unacceptable" patch at the end of the day. She warned that if he returned to school on Monday with the Gadsden patch, he would be sent to the front office until it was removed, emails show.
The school said Jaiden's Firearms Policy Coalition Official Member patch, which includes a picture of a semi-automatic rifle, is not allowed at school either. However, his Dogecoin and "Bear Arms And Bitcoin" patches are allowed, the school said.
Then on Monday, the school offered its rationale for banning the symbol.
Vanguard School Director of Operations Jeff Yocum emailed Jaiden's mother an explanation that cited several news articles about the flag.
Yocum cited a decision by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which said that while it is "clear that the Gadsden Flag originated in the Revolutionary War in a non-racial context," nevertheless, "it also has since been sometimes interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts."
Yocum also said in his email that the Gadsden flag is "tied to the Confederate flag and other white-supremacy groups, including 'Patriot' groups," citing an article by an associate professor of graphic design. He also said the Gadsden is "tied to hate groups" and cited an article that noted the flag was flown at the Capitol riot.
Finally, Yocum cited the U.S. Navy's 2016 decision to authorize a slightly different "Don't Tread On Me" patch, but not the Gadsden patch.
"We truly hope to have Jaiden back at school tomorrow to resume his normal school day, but that will require this patch to be removed from his backpack," Yocum wrote in his email to Jaiden's mother.
Jaiden appeared to return to school on Tuesday wearing the Gadsden patch, as well as a tricornered hat, according to a social media post from Connor Boyack, president of the Libertas Institute, who first sounded the alarm about the school's decision.
Neither the Vanguard School nor the Harrison School District Two responded to a request for comment.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis reacted to the video of the exchange with school staff on social media, saying the Gadsden flag is "obviously" a "proud symbol of the American revolution."
"It appears on popular American medallions and challenge coins through today and Ben Franklin also adopted it to symbolize the union of the 13 colonies. It's a great teaching moment for a history lesson!" Polis posted on X, formerly Twitter.
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A Colorado middle-schooler was kicked out of class on Monday for wearing a patch of the Gadsden flag on his backpack.
Jaiden, a seventh grader at The Vanguard School, a charter school in Colorado Springs, was pulled from class on Monday after school staff noticed the Gadsden patch.
His mother came to the school with a younger child in tow to discuss the situation.
She was told that her son "needs to take that patch off" and that the Gadsden flag is not allowed in class because it has "origins with slavery" and the "slave trade," a video of the conversation shows.
"We can't have that in and around other kids," a woman who appears to be school staff tells Jaiden's mother in the video.
"It has nothing to do with slavery. That's the Revolutionary War patch that was displayed when they were fighting the British," the mother responds.
The Gadsden flag, a yellow flag depicting a coiled rattlesnake with the words "Don't Tread On Me," a warning to Britain, was flown during the Revolutionary War. The flag was designed in 1775 by U.S. brigadier general Christopher Gadsden, who critics have pointed out was a slave owner.
"She said I have to take it off. I don't understand. Why would I have to take off a patriotic symbol? It's just weird, it's kind of weird. I feel like she's infringing on my rights," Jaiden said in another video provided by his mother to The Daily Wire.
The school initially flagged Jaiden's patch in an email to his mother earlier this month and referred to a district policy banning items that "refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons," according to emails viewed by The Daily Wire.
On Friday, Vanguard School Executive Director Renee Henslee told Jaiden's mother in an email that they noticed his "unacceptable" patch at the end of the day. She warned that if he returned to school on Monday with the Gadsden patch, he would be sent to the front office until it was removed, emails show.
The school said Jaiden's Firearms Policy Coalition Official Member patch, which includes a picture of a semi-automatic rifle, is not allowed at school either. However, his Dogecoin and "Bear Arms And Bitcoin" patches are allowed, the school said.
Then on Monday, the school offered its rationale for banning the symbol.
Vanguard School Director of Operations Jeff Yocum emailed Jaiden's mother an explanation that cited several news articles about the flag.
Yocum cited a decision by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which said that while it is "clear that the Gadsden Flag originated in the Revolutionary War in a non-racial context," nevertheless, "it also has since been sometimes interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts."
Yocum also said in his email that the Gadsden flag is "tied to the Confederate flag and other white-supremacy groups, including 'Patriot' groups," citing an article by an associate professor of graphic design. He also said the Gadsden is "tied to hate groups" and cited an article that noted the flag was flown at the Capitol riot.
Finally, Yocum cited the U.S. Navy's 2016 decision to authorize a slightly different "Don't Tread On Me" patch, but not the Gadsden patch.
"We truly hope to have Jaiden back at school tomorrow to resume his normal school day, but that will require this patch to be removed from his backpack," Yocum wrote in his email to Jaiden's mother.
Jaiden appeared to return to school on Tuesday wearing the Gadsden patch, as well as a tricornered hat, according to a social media post from Connor Boyack, president of the Libertas Institute, who first sounded the alarm about the school's decision.
Neither the Vanguard School nor the Harrison School District Two responded to a request for comment.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis reacted to the video of the exchange with school staff on social media, saying the Gadsden flag is "obviously" a "proud symbol of the American revolution."
"It appears on popular American medallions and challenge coins through today and Ben Franklin also adopted it to symbolize the union of the 13 colonies. It's a great teaching moment for a history lesson!" Polis posted on X, formerly Twitter.
Comments
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Big Bob said:
( September 26th, 2023 @ 6:54 pm )
and you just keep digging
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Big Bob: I reckon there will never come this way a substantive comment from you.
It must be your Leftist thing that always tends to prove me right: Leftists can't think but so deeply. |
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"In conclusion here, my substantive understanding of the perfected system allows me quickly to understand the true face of Tyranny, of which I see now daily on a regular basis."
Enough said |
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So Big Bob: Where am I wrong?
Tell me that with some manner of intellectually acuity, then you can discuss my "massive ego." |
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Translation. I have an opinion.
Really Stan you're not stupid but sometimes a massive ego can interfere with good judgment. Sigmund would be impressed and slightly horrified. |
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Big Bob: I agree about working within the system; I have done it for nearly 23 years as a Beaufort County Commissioner, and, of course, my understanding of that system is perfectly clear; I work within those guidelines; the perfect system of the Constitution of these states united, a document I am sworn to defend many times over.
When that "system" that you advocate moves directionally away from the US Constitution, then I work within that governing system that I am sworn to be familiar with to pull it back from the brink, and into proper focus. The US Constitution is the only system that I am sworn to defend, not directive notes, of say: "The 'System' for Dummies," wherever someone, such as yourself, may alternately know where you may find them. It is a simple understanding, but a correct one, so that is the system that I will always employ, and will advise my constituents to do the same. In conclusion here, my substantive understanding of the perfected system allows me quickly to understand the true face of Tyranny, of which I see now daily on a regular basis. |
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Across the board, Biden is a bigger threat to American freedom than George III ever was. That recent Rasmussen poll shows that most Americans are aware of the threat to democracy and freedom posed by Biden.
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Stan, it all depends on your definition of tyranny. I do not consider the current form of US government tyranny. I choose to be loyal to my country and work for the changes I believe in within the system. You have chosen another path. A path I do not agree with and will oppose.
And CV, I'm actually not all that interested in Trans rights. I am interested in human rights and will oppose human rights abuse when I see it. I will add, watching your head explode while discussing the topic is an added perk. 
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Stan, Little Bobbie LIKES tyranny. He does not ever want to fight it. That is what the "progressive" agenda is all about - imposing tyranny. That is the very reason they are pushing the climate hoax as a cover for a jackboot Big Brother government. They are taking a page from Hitler who also prattled on about the environment early in his regime.
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How so Big Bob? How does does the symbol of a fight against Tyranny change in these times, Big Bob?
Please explain. |
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Context. what something meant 200 years ago can change over time.
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The GAdsden flag was carried by American colonists fighting for freedom and independence from the UK during the Revolutionary War. It represents the principles of our founding fathers, which unfortunately triggers some of todays Marxists. It was not used by anyone in the War Between the States.
And Bob, the Confederate Battle Flag was carried by anti-communist protesters in East Germany and elsewhere in eastern Europe during the fall of communism as a symbol of freedom against a tyrannical government. Indeed, the only time in my life I have ever heard the song "Dixie" played on the radio, I was in Prague, Czech Republic after the fall of the communists. Confederate symbolism was synonimous with freedom in that part of the world. |
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