Student Suspended For Taking Down Mexican FlagDavid SolanoKIAH
May 7, 2010
SPRING, Texas - A student in Klein ISD has been slapped with a three-day suspension for what he did to the Mexican flag. He trashed it after the flag was put on display by another student inside Klein Collins High School on Cinco de Mayo.
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The suspended student's mother said the punishment is not fair. It's a topic burning up talk radio.
"I think what's happening is that people are frustrated because patriotism is being downplayed or spat-upon while we're supposed to celebrate the culture and the nationality of other nations," said Michael Berry, a radio host on 740 KTRH-AM in Houston. "And I think Americans have had enough of that."
Berry is talking about what people are calling him to talk about - pictures from his website showing a Mexican flag displayed for everyone to see inside Klein Collins High School. The Klein Independent School District said a female student had permission when she hung the flag in honor of Cinco de Mayo.
"Apparently another student tore that flag down and threw it in the trash," said Trazanna Moreno, who's the associate superintendent for community relations at the Klein Independent School District (KISD).
"If anybody had the right to take the flag down, I think it was the school," said Della Burdett, a Houston native.
That student, who's a sophomore, was seen on surveillance taking the flag down.
"We never found the flag in the garbage," said Moreno. " We were never able to recover the flag."
39 News was told the teen must pay for the flag he threw away. As for why he did it? We're hearing the boy didn't think it was right for the Mexican flag to be posted higher than the American flag.
"We really want people to know that the school district and the campus did not do anything to dishonor the American flag or the Texas flag. We didn't fly the American flag upside down, as has been reported," Moreno said. "We didn't fly a Mexican flag from the flag pole."
People in the community have mixed feelings.
"I think suspension might be just a little too much," said Jason Roenker, who's lived in the Spring community for nine months. "I think that's a little harsh."
"If that kid wanted to celebrate his heritage he should be allowed to," said David Lopez, a Mexican-American, who told us how upset he and his family are after hearing about the incident. "Everybody should have that right."
"We're supposed to be land of the free; home of the brave," said Burdett. "That does not seem very free or brave to me."
Although the center of controversy, the recognition of the Mexican flag on Cinco de Mayo was no exception. The district said Klein Collins prides itself on celebrating culture and diversity.
http://www.39online.com/news/local/kiah-mexican-flag-story,0,6151390.story
