Black Student Arrested For Not Reciting The Pledge Of Allegiance
Freedom of speech, something guaranteed in the First Amendment to the Constitution of the United States. Of course, the Constitution was not written with black people in mind when all these "RIGHTS" were being stated to the white citizens of the newly formed United States of America.
Eventually America had to acknowledge her black citizens as Americans, too, because we are here and not going anywhere. Still, our rights are always at the discretion of the powers that be.
A sixth - grade black boy in the Tampa - Bay, Florida area, was arrested after he refused to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
This led to a confrontation with school officials and the police, the unnamed boy was charged with disrupting a school function and resisting an officer.
This was without violence on February 4th says the Lakeland Police Department. The black student at Lawton Chiles Middle Academy, called the flag racist and described the national anthem as offensive. The substitute teacher, Ana Alvarez, said to the boy, "Why if it was so bad here, he did not go to another place to live". The boy replied, "They brought me here". Meaning his mother and whom ever else "they" are.
Ms. Alvarez responded with, "Well, you can always go back, because I came from Cuba, and the day I feel I'm not welcome here anymore, I would find another place to live". She then called the office because she didn't want to keep dealing with the student.
School officials said the situation escalated, the student yelled at the dean and the resource officer (Lakeland Cop) after they came into the room.
The student accused them of being racist, "Suspend me! I don't care. This school is racist", the student told the dean, as he walked out of the classroom according to the affidavit.
Lakeland Police said the student was not arrested for refusing to recite the pledge of allegiance. "This arrest was based on the student's choice to disrupt the classroom, make threats and resisting the officer's efforts to leave the classroom".
The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida said, "This is outrageous. Students do not lose their First Amendment rights when they enter the schoolhouse gates. This is a prime example of the over - policing of Black Students in school".
The 11 - year - old boy's mother, Dhakira Talbot said, "I'm upset, I'm angry, I'm hurt more so for my son. My son has never been through anything like this. I feel like this should've been handled differently. If disciplinary action should've been taken, it should've been with the school. He shouldn't have been arrested".
The boy's mother is right, her son should not have been arrested and here is why. The school district said students are not required to participate in reciting the pledge. Did you hear that? ARE NOT REQUIRED!
And then there is this. The Supreme Court ruled in 1943 in "West Virginia State Board of Ed. vs Barnette", that schools CANNOT REQUIRE students to salute the flag or recite the pledge, citing First Amendment rights.
You might want to get familiar with your school district's policy and the Supreme Court ruling of 1943 regarding this matter, Ms. Alvarez!
This black student should not have been arrested as his mother stated,;but as is the case so many times when it comes to black students, authorities over step in punishment.
Now, this young brother is in the "system" and in the school to prison pipeline!
Let me be clear, this student was within his constitutional rights to not recite the pledge if he chose not to do so. The adults should have known this and acted accordingly, especially the teacher and the dean because of the school district's policy.
As I mentioned previously, the Constitution was not written with black people in mind; and it is incidents like this, that remind us of that fact so often. Another case like this happened in Houston to a black girl so this is not an isolated thing.
Let's examine the young brother's claims and see if they have any merit, ok? He said, "The flag is racist!" What does it represent with its 13 red and white stripes and 50 stars?
The 13 stripes represent the original 13 British Colonies that fought for the right to govern themselves and be free from British rule. Slavery was allowed in these colonies; so from a black perspective, calling this symbol racist isn't a stretch.
The 50 stars represent the 50 states that make up these United States of America, but are they really united? It's not 1819, but in 2019, black people are still fighting for equal treatment and representation in
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