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Previous Story: Confederate flag controversy

KMOV

(KMOV) - Some parents are outraged and so are some students, and they say they're not going to take it.

They say their school district is violating their rights they're going to fight back.

Before much of the world was awake, their battle cry went out. A cry for justice, they say, a cry for their free speech.

It's been a civil rights war, the Archambo family says, pitting them against the Farmington School District.

Bryce Archambo says, a high school administrator suspended him a day last September, when he disobeyed a direct order to take off his shirt or turn it inside out. It had a Confederate Flag on it. His hat did too.

He, his family, and some friends are now trying to prove their point, with a protest.

Some parents just glanced, school administrators would only watch.

District lawyer, Tom Mickes, insists school administrators never suspended Bryce, they only asked him to turn the shirt inside out, because some students, both African-Americans and whites, might be offended by the rebel flag on it.

The Archambo's hired their own attorney and filed a lawsuit against the district.

In their eyes, it's a fight to the end, one, they believe, they won't lose.

Two more students tells News 4 a school administrator suspended them for not turning their shirts inside out. The district's lawyer denies it.

He also told us, most districts in the area have the same policy, anything that might be considered harrassing is looked at closely on a case-by-case basis.

HELLO!!!
Either let the kids wear what they want, or they ALL need to wear a uniform so there are NO identifing marks.
Why is it ok for a black student to wear his pants hanging down so he looks like he just got let out of prison (Realy great role models?), but a white student can't wear a Confederate Battle Flag? Which by the way NEVER flew over any slave ship, when the USA Flag is ok, when it DID fly over slave ships?
Why are we being told the Confederate Battle Flag is a bad thing? Because most people don't know the history. So they try to control us through politicaly correct falsehoods.
Study and learn the history or we are doomed to repeat it.
The CSA never wanted to overthrow the government, only tried to live out the constitution by leaving the USA and implimenting a government that fit the people better. A very important constituional right.
Lincoln would have no part of that, so he attacked the south in order to keep the tax base(Just follow the money).
Slavery was ending on it's own, in every other country that had slavery it ended without a shot fired, as the farm machines came into wide use less manpower was needed.
It's a shame the history is so distorted. Always told from a northern perstective. Learn the history and you will have a great deal of respect for the flag.
By the way, More Africans fought for the south then the north, their home and way of life was under attack.
Let the Colors FLY!!

The confederate flag is a part of American History, to denie the kids the right to ware the the confederate flag is going against free speech and our own history.

Schools have the right - whether public or private - to deem personal items that could be offensive as inappropriate school apparel. These parents just have way to much time on their hands by continuing with this law suit. They are enabling their child's defiant behavior. I hope they are prepared to support him for the rest of his life, because I don't know any employer that would tolerate that kind of behavior.

The Confederate flag is an inflammatory symbol, like a gang symbol, and should not be in schools.

I think it is ridiculous that this be banned. You can take anything in history and someone can say it is offensive to them. Before you know it we will be banning everything.
Personally I find bad language and pants being worn below the butt being offensive but that is cool.
I would much rather see a boy in a confederate shirt or hat or scarf than to see him wear pants below his but and me have to look at his underwear. I think we need to get off of this offensive kick of this confederate stuff and worry more about the fact that kids don't want to come to school or don't want to learn anything rather than what someone is wearing.

The only "flag" that should be allowed on a students clothing is either the USA flag, state flag or Official City flag.
Any other flag (Confederate especially) is disrespectful to the USA.

I feel they should be allowed to just as I feel that Malcom X shirts should be allowed. Honestly banning it will cause the kids to learn more about the hatred that lies behind that symbol.

Our southern friends consider the Confederate flag a fine, old tradition. If that is true there is no reason to ban other fine old traditions, like the rising sun or the swastika. The Confederate flag stands for support of slavery. There are a lot of people too indifferent or just too ignorant to our history.

This is a form of free speak. Are the schools going to ban blacks from wearing a black pride or Malcom X t shirt? I don't think so!! If it is offensive to blacks by all means ban it. This is what you call reverse descrimination.

This student should be able to were the confederated flag at school. I went to school at the neighboring school, it is called the central rebels. Their is a confederate flag hanging on just about every wall and all the students had one in there car. There was a student of every race while was their including the troubled students from St. Louis and no one had a problem with it. We also took our flag to Farmington school when we where playing them. Its a lifestyle there not a racial slur.

WHAT HAPPENED TO THE FREEDOM OF SPEECH?!?!?!?! For goodness sakes people, it's a t-shirt with a little bit of history on it. Really, we need to get out of the stone ages. Some "people" are just too darn sensitive in this world.

FREEDOM OF SELF EXPRESSION AND FREEDOM OF SPEACH.

If this were baned, then all wording should be baned. There is offensive material in other areas to others (not only those who dislike the Confederate flag).

The origin of the Confederate Battle Flag as a "racist" symbol began with its use by groups like the KKK back in the mid-ninteenth century. Groups like this are fringe and insignificant today, though minority rights groups still make this a larger issue than it really is in order to gain self-recognition on a national scale. The KKK also flew the American flag, but you don't see anybody calling for its ban. The CSA battle flag is not racist, it's a piece of cloth unable to form opinions or thoughts. If the person flying or wearing the flag is racist, then deal with that person. If the person flying or wearing the flag believes that the CSA fought for the rights of self-government, against government oppression, or believes it to be a symbol of their heritage, there is absolutely nothing wrong with it. You do not have the right to NOT be offended. If the flag bothers you, then engage the person wearing or flying it in converstation and debate - that is the American way, not sensoring things just because they make you feel uncomfortable.

the confederate flag is a symbol of less government, less taxes and the valor and bravery shown by the Southern soldier who sacrificed himself for the principles espoused by the founding fathers of America.
Long live the South and it's treasured symbols.

Yes wear it. The last time I looked we still had freedom of speech in this country but the way things are going we may not have it much longer.

The Confederate Battle Flag is Part of Missouri History, During the 4 years of the War our state was under Military Occupation and the Duly elected Executive Branch and Legislature were under house arrest to prevent the soverinty of the Great State of Missouri. Col Lyons of the Jefferson Barracks was the Military leader of The Union Army who controlled what happend in our state for most of that time.He and his troops murderd several Southern Sympathiser and incarcerated women and children while in charge.My GrUncle Dick Kitchen was shot in the back unarmed while he was shoeing his horse, the yankee shot him with Dick's own gun to boot! So Like Harry S Truman I support the showing of the Confederate Battle Flag by all who wish to fly,wear,or display it anytime anywere!

If the confederat flag is the flag of your country, then you live in a different contry than most Americans. You need to move to a desert Island. and I would say you can then make your own rules.

because they have rules

I don't consider my self to be racists I was born in the north have family that fought on both side of the civil war some lost their life. this is a battle flag some groups think it is more then thatI can see both sides to it there is alot of things people dis play that I don't agree with but this country as a right of freedom of speech. it has already been proven in our court systems that things of this a nature is a form of freedom of speech you might not like the message but same person might not like something you show as your freedom of speech what I'm trying say if you don't like it don't look at no one is forceing you too.

the confederate battle flag is the symbol of a group that wished and attempted to overthrow the government of this country... why is it not simply considered treasonous to wear or display it? why isn't there a national law against this like the one in germany that outlawed the nazi flag?

It is heritage not hate. Being from the South I take great pride in our Flag. They make such a big deal about this but yet no one is saying anything about the holiday for Mr. King. Let's have a holiday for Robert E. Lee or any of the other great Confederate Generals.

As many persons have commented this is a matter of choice. Although this is a part of american history, it's not a part to be proud of, it representts hatred and bigotry just as the swastika represents Hitler and such horrendous atrocities.
I'm from the caribbean and to tell you the truth, when I see the swastika or the confederate flag, my first thoughts are,'get far away from these people because they will likely hurt of kill me if they can get away with it"
It is therefore a form of expression for those who wear it and it serves to identify the kind of homes the students are coming from and what their parents support. It's better for them to wear it and advertise who they are so that we can know who they are be ready in case they cause incidents like school shootings etc. It's much easier for extremists to strike when they all blend in and you have no idea of what their views are and what they might be capable of.
So I say, let them advertise their views, then you will know to act accordingly whether it's to take evasive action or be prepared to defend yourself when they attack.

The flag says a lot about who someone is and you can't take that away from them!!! I'm a student at Farmington High School and I think that the teacher that knocked the hat off of the kids head was only doing it because he's not in sports and it's one of the "rich" kids in the school! My FLAG has 13 Stars and if you don't like it you can kiss my BUTT!!!

If you are going to ban the Confederate flag which is a part of American history, then lets also ban the malcom X shirts, martin luther king shirts, etc......

I couldn't care less who it offends. I'm offended by the United Negro College Fund but you don't see that being stopped.

THE CONFEDERATE FLAG WAS NOT DESIGNED TO BE A RACE SYMBOL. IT WAS MADE BY THE SOUTHERN ARMY AS A BATTLE FLAG TO BE USED IN BATTLE.IT IS PART OF OUR HISTORY.DO NOT BLAME THE FLAG. IF THE STUDENT USED IT OTHER THAN JUST WEARING IT DEAL WITH THE STUDENT.

First, to whoever put the note where it says that Missouri was part of the CSA, youre wrong, Missouri was a Union State. We did have slaves, but we were a Union State. By the way, I attend Farmington as a senior and can tell you all that they seem to like to crack down on the confederate flag, but not on other issues. For example, I one saw a student sent to the discipline office for wearing a shirt with a small confederate flag in the corner, but not a student who had a shirt on that said "Sex Ed Valedictorian". Really, that offends me more than a confederate flag. If people dont realize that the United states was founded on the principle of freedom and that we are guaranteed certain rights, namely the freedom of speech, we will soon lose those freedoms if someone doesnt stand up and exercise their constitutional rights. I commend this family for their efforts and good luck to them!

There is nothing wrong with the Rebel flag, never has been, never will be.
You can't please everybody, quit trying.

I dont see the big deal. Schools have only in the last 10-15 years gotten reaaly uptight. I wasnt uncommon to see rebel flags on clothing cars,notebooks,folders back in the 70s and 80s now a person can barely breathe a sigh without someone jumping to conclusions.

Should students be allowed to wear clothes with the Confederate flag on them to school?