On Monday, a Colorado middle schooler was expelled for wearing a Gadsden flag patch on his bag.
Jaiden, a seventh-grader at Colorado Springs’ The Vanguard School, was removed from class on Monday after school employees discovered the Gadsden patch.
Meet 12yo Jaiden who was kicked out of class yesterday in Colorado Springs for having a Gadsden flag patch, which the school claims has "origins with slavery."
The school's director said via email that the patch was "disruptive to the classroom environment."
Receipts in the 🧵 pic.twitter.com/qQ8jK1zSpR
— Connor Boyack 📚 (@cboyack) August 29, 2023
His mother came to the school with a younger child in tow to discuss the situation.
She was told that her son “needs to take that patch off” and that the Gadsden flag is not allowed in class because it has “origins with slavery” and the “slave trade,” a video of the conversation shows.
“We can’t have that in and around other kids,” a woman who appears to be school staff tells Jaiden’s mother in the video.
“It has nothing to do with slavery. That’s the Revolutionary War patch that was displayed when they were fighting the British,” the mother responds.
During the Revolutionary War, the Gadsden flag, a yellow flag showing a coiled rattlesnake with the inscription “Don’t Tread On Me,” was flown as a warning to Britain. The flag was designed in 1775 by U.S. Brigadier General Christopher Gadsden, who was a slave owner, according to opponents.
“She said I have to take it off. I don’t understand. Why would I have to take off a patriotic symbol? It’s just weird, it’s kind of weird. I feel like she’s infringing on my rights,” Jaiden said in another video.
The school first identified Jaiden’s patch in an email to his mother earlier this month, citing a district regulation prohibiting objects that “refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons,” according to correspondence.
In an email sent to Jaiden’s mother on Friday, Vanguard School Executive Director Renee Henslee stated that his “unacceptable” patch was discovered at the conclusion of the day. She informed him that if he returned to school with the Gadsden patch on Monday, he would be sent to the front office until it was removed, according to correspondence.
Jaiden’s Firearms Policy Coalition Official Member patch, which depicts a semi-automatic weapon, is also not permitted at school, according to the school. His Dogecoin and “Bear Arms And Bitcoin” patches, on the other hand, are permitted.
The school then explained their reasoning for prohibiting the sign on Monday.
Jeff Yocum, Director of Operations at Vanguard School, emailed Jaiden’s mother an explanation, citing multiple news items concerning the flag.
Yocum cited a decision by the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, which said that while it is “clear that the Gadsden Flag originated in the Revolutionary War in a non-racial context,” nevertheless, “it also has since been sometimes interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts.”
Yocum also stated in his email that the Gadsden flag is “tied to the Confederate flag and other white-supremacy groups, including ‘Patriot’ groups,” citing an article written by an associate professor of graphic design. He further claimed the Gadsden is “connected to hate groups,” citing a report that stated the flag was flown during the Capitol disturbance.
Finally, Yocum noted the United States Navy’s decision in 2016 to sanction a slightly altered “Don’t Tread On Me” patch but not the Gadsden patch.
“We truly hope to have Jaiden back at school tomorrow to resume his normal school day, but that will require this patch to be removed from his backpack,” Yocum wrote in his email to Jaiden’s mother.
According to Connor Boyack, president of the Libertas Institute, who originally raised the alarm over the school’s decision, Jaiden appeared to return to school on Tuesday wearing the Gadsden patch as well as a tricornered hat.
For those asking for an update:
– Jaiden decided to go back to school today. With his patch will in place. He said he'd do a sit-in if necessary to protest.
– Two law firms have stepped forward to assist as necessary to fight the viewpoint discrimination.
– Lots of media… pic.twitter.com/lEVH6XiLDm
— Connor Boyack 📚 (@cboyack) August 29, 2023
The Vanguard School and Harrison School District Two did not reply to requests for comment.
Colorado Governor Jared Polis responded on social media to the video of the conversation with school personnel, stating the Gadsden flag is “obviously” a “proud symbol of the American Revolution.”
Obviously the Gadsden flag is a proud symbol of the American revolution and a iconic warning to Britain or any government not to violate the liberties of Americans. It appears on popular American medallions and challenge coins through today and Ben Franklin also adopted it to…
— Jared Polis (@jaredpolis) August 29, 2023
“It appears on popular American medallions and challenge coins through today and Ben Franklin also adopted it to symbolize the union of the 13 colonies. It’s a great teaching moment for a history lesson!” Polis posted on X, formerly Twitter.
This young man is unique, and I’d like to shake his hand. More youngsters like this are needed in America. His mother did an excellent job raising him, and I hope he never gives up.
His position, and the roles of others like him, are critical to our country and to liberty.
It sickens me that his instructors and principal would discourage him.