First Amendment Rights
Caleb Horst, a senior at the school, expressed confusion over the school’s directive to remove the stars and stripes from his pickup, especially since he had been “flying it for quite a while.”
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“I’ve never really had problems with it before, and it’s our First Amendment, so it’s kind of hard for them to infringe upon our rights,” Horst told KOCO last week.
Unified Call for Reversal
After speaking out about the school’s order, Horst received widespread support from fellow students, parents, and local lawmakers.
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They all demanded that the decision be reversed.
District Cites Safety and Disruption Concerns
Edmond Public Schools explained that the district prohibits the display of any flags on vehicles.
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“This is designed to prevent disruptions and distractions during the school day,” the school district told KOCO. “It is also done in an effort to provide a safe school environment, as flying flags on vehicles creates safety issues in the parking lot and can cause damage to other vehicles.”
Superintendent Criticizes Flag Ban Justification
However, this explanation did little to quell the community’s outrage, with Oklahoma State Superintendent Ryan Walters announcing plans to investigate the school district.
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“It sounds like they’re making a bunch of excuses to me,” he said. “Here’s the reality: you told the kid he couldn’t bring a flag onto campus, that is a ridiculous position, and it needs to be fixed.”
Walters and Lawmakers Push for Policy Revisions
Walters pledged to protect students’ rights to fly the flag until the rules are revised.
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A group of local lawmakers has also called on the district superintendent to update its policies.
John Schneider Joins Protests
The protests in Edmond gained additional support from Dukes of Hazzard star John Schneider, who posted a video on Facebook applauding the student’s efforts.
Source: Wikimedia
“These are the kinds of people that we need to continue not only to support but to shout their names and their patriotism from our rooftops,” Schneider said. “Caleb, you’re doing a great job… keep doing it, and I want you all to continue to back this wonderful young man.”
School District Stands Firm on Flag Ban
Despite the mounting backlash, the school district has remained firm, warning that Horst could face disciplinary action if he continues to fly the flag on his truck.
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The situation led to a small protest in the school parking lot, where several parents and students gathered to wave the flag in defiance.
Friend of Student Highlights Personal Connection to Flag Ban
Vance Miller, a friend of Horst’s, explained that the ban “hit home” for him due to his family’s military background.
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“I’ve got a brother in the military, so it kind of hit home to me because I was like, he’s fighting for that flag, we should be allowed to fly it,” Miller said.
Miller Defends Flag as Symbol of Unity and Freedom
Miller continued, “It’d be different if we were trying to make a political statement, but there’s nothing political about it. It represents us, it’s unity, it represents us as one, and it’s our freedom”
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“We have people that fight and die for that flag every day, so I think we should be allowed to fly it.”
Horst Vows to Challenge Flag Ban Despite Potential Discipline
Despite the potential for disciplinary action, Horst stated on Monday that he intends to continue challenging the flag ban and expressed gratitude for the community’s support.
Source: Freepik
“It felt pretty good to just see how many people were behind us,” he said. “I know there’s a lot of people that aren’t behind us, but there’s probably even more that are, and it was kind of encouraging.”
School District to Handle Discipline Case-by-Case
The school district said it would address any disciplinary matters on a case-by-case basis, with students noting that their protests have not yet resulted in any action.
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“Last week, they talked about disciplinary action,” Sutton Cargill, a junior at the school, told KOCO. “There’s really nothing new coming out.” “Unless they want to put half of their school in AISP (Alternative In-School Placement), they really couldn’t punish everybody for having the American flag out.”