An 11-year-old Florida student was arrested for refusing to say the pledge of allegiance, according to the child’s mother and lawyer. The school claims that the sixth grader became disruptive before being taken into custody.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=37eTvNjcaSY
The drama began when a substitute teacher at Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in Lakeland, Florida, demanded that the student joined his classmates in reciting the pledge of allegiance to the country. It was then that the 11-year-old refused to follow such admonition and told the teacher that the pledge was offensive to African Americans such as himself. The substitute then proceeded to exchange words with the child, according to her report, and eventually called security for help with the matter.
Security and the police claim that the child disrupted the classroom, which is what led to his arrest. The 11-year-old’s attorney, however, says that no such chaos occurred and that the authorities overreacted to the situation.
“It’s our position that the police report has been largely fabricated in order to justify the wrongful arrest,” the lawyer stipulates. “They interjected the word racist to mischaracterize the event.”
We all know why.#SchoolWhileBlack#LivingWhileBlack https://t.co/l2Selv9x6Y
— Ivey McClelland(she/her)❤❤❤❤ (@iveyjanette_207) February 18, 2019
The 11-year-old’s mother agrees. “I’m upset, I’m angry. I’m hurt,” she reveals to the media. “My son has never been through anything like this. And I feel like they should’ve handled this differently. If any disciplinary action should’ve been taken, it should’ve been with the school.”
Lawton Chiles Middle Academy in Lakeland strives to build an environment that lets children maintain their first amendment rights. As such, the school does not require students to recite the pledge of allegiance. Administrators claim that the substitute teacher was not aware of their policy regarding the pledge but do not completely condemn the substitute’s actions that led to the child’s eventual arrest.
Hoping she sues the school. And demand they PAY for his FULL tuition at another school! Or pay for him to be homeschooled! A lot of Black families may have to start doing that so that we aren't disrespected in the traditional school system. #SchoolWhileBlack#LivingWhileBlack
— Ivey McClelland(she/her)❤❤❤❤ (@iveyjanette_207) February 18, 2019
“We do not condone the substitute’s behavior,” the school’s district said in a recent statement. “We respect our students’ right to freedom of expression and we are committed to protecting that critical right while ensuring peaceful classrooms so all students can learn.”
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Photo: Lawton Chiles Middle Academy
