Red, white, and blue are the colors of American pride, or so thought students who walk through the halls of a California high school. On Cinco de Mayo, a Mexican holiday, all students who were wearing American flag shirts were asked to either turn their shirt inside out or go home. A unanimous court decision decided that this was okay and schools should be allowed to do this for “safety reasons”. This is a violation of a student’s free speech and is censorship.

This is sickening and heartbreaking. Students who want to show American pride in an American school should be allowed to. In fact, soldiers are dying every day to defend this right. So why did this school show a complete lack of respect to America and her soldiers?

I know for a fact that this is wrong. If showing patriotism and pride in my country is wrong, then what is right? This is America; I am allowed to wear what I want. Especially if I want to wear the flag of the great country of the United States of America. Next thing you know, I won’t be allowed to wear a Christian shirt or an Israeli flag because it might possibly offend someone.

Instead of stepping all over a student’s right to wear the American flag or patriotic clothing, this California school needs to accept the fact that this is America and students are allowed to wear patriotic clothing no matter what day it is. Schools need to focus more on preventing and stopping other students who might be offended and attack the student wearing the shirt. Focus on students who incite violence, not the student showing American pride.