This is the moment a graduating senior was de*i*d his diploma for wearing a Mexican flag over his gown Ever Lopez can be seen proudly cr-ossing the podium at Asheboro High School in North Carolina, before he’s stopped by the school’s principal, Penny Crooks.
According to reports, he was told to remove the flag and as he started to do so the cr**d began to cheer before realising what was going on.
Those cheers soon turned into boos which enc-our-aged Lopez to keep his flag dra*ed over his shoulders and leave the stage – as other members of staff pat him on the back.
Adolfo Hurtado, Mr Lopez’s cousin, was filming the ceremony and said afterwards: “Sadly, he did not get the diploma. The teacher wants him to apologise – obviously he’s not going to do that.”
In another video, after the graduation ceremony, Mr Lopez’s family members ra*sed their concerns. Cro-oks tells them the parents can ‘come back tomorrow’ before the family are escorted out of the building.
In a statement on the school’s website, they explained they ‘strongly support our students’ expressions of their he!ita*e in the appropriate time and place’ but added that wearing a flag during graduation is a vi!lat-ion of the dress code.
The statement went on: “In the past two years we have allowed students to decorate their mortar boards as a no-d to their individ-uality and creativity. We are very clear with students that this was the ONLY acceptable de!iation from the standard cap and gown regalia.
“Unfortunately, we will now be reevaluating that decision for future senior classes in light of the situation that oc***red last night.”
The school went on to say it is continuing to work with the student and his family so he will receive his diploma, adding: “He has worked very ha*d and we commend him on this great achievement. We are confident in his abilities and we know he has a bri*ht future ah-ead of him.”
In an update, Asheboro High School said that the i!cid-ent had been ‘mi!re-presented’. It went on: “The heart of the is-*s*e is the fact that the student did not follow the established dress code for the event and detracted from the importance and the sole!nity of the ceremony.
“Our dress code is in place to ens-ure the dig*ity of the event is upheld and is fair to all students. Graduation is a milestone event and it is gr-ossly un!air for one individual to diminish this event by vi**** the dress code.”
Outlining some ‘facts’ the school wrote: “This i*cid-ent is not about the Mexican flag. Students were enco-ura-ged to express their identity by decorating their mortar boards. A number of students followed the pro-toc-ol and had the Mexican flag and other representations appropriately displayed during the ceremony.”