Confederate flag clothes worn on ‘Merica Monday spark uproar at Pennsylvania school

Homecoming Spirit Week at a Pennsylvania high school kicked off with ‘Merica Monday, encouraging students to wear red, white and blue.

But two Norwin High School students wore Confederate flag clothing as part of the theme, sparking uproar, according to local media reports.

A photo obtained by WTAE shows one of the two students wearing Confederate flag shorts or pants, and the other wearing a Confederate flag shirt.

“Some people were just wearing red, white and blue,” said junior Kalea Armstrong, according to KDKA. “But I think when you put the Confederate flag on, which is a symbolism of racism from the South, it’s jaw-dropping.

“I was infuriated,” she continued. “I went down to the principal’s office, talked to him in the office. It brought me to tears.”

Other students felt the same as Kalea, speaking with WXPI.

“My father is a refugee from Laos and coming from someone who is bi-racial I’ve not been new to this hate,” Maleah Phetsomphou told the TV station. “But to see a specific group be targeted and hated like that. That’s very hurtful.”

Arnav Bedekar also spoke to the station.

“It was all going okay until I started seeing people with confederate pants and shirts,” Arnav said, according to WXPI. “They are walking around with teachers around and nobody was taking any action and I felt both confused and mad.”

Norwin Superintendent Jeff Taylor said in a statement that students wearing clothing that “may potentially disrupt the educational process are given a verbal warning on the first occasion and are asked to change their clothing,” according to KDKA.

“While we are disappointed that this situation occurred in our school, we see it as a learning opportunity to reinforce the Norwin School District’s commitment to a safe, healthy and positive learning environment each and every day,” the statement says.

A school administrator said the photo of the students was taken early in the day, WTAE reported, and once administration became aware, the students were called into the office and changed into different clothing.

The school’s “appropriate attire” section of the 2021-22 Student Rights, Responsibilities and Discipline Booklet echoes Taylor’s statement.

“Students inappropriately attired will be required to change to appropriate attire before they will be permitted to return to class,” it reads. “At the secondary level, students who cannot obtain appropriate clothing may be asked to change into appropriate clothing provided by the District.”

Social justice organization, Take Action Mon Valley, is calling for punishment, for the school to host a community meeting and for it to change its policies, WTAE reported.

“The Confederate flag has been a symbol associated with racism and celebrating white supremacy,” co-founder Fawn Walker-Montgomery said, according to the station. “These things are known. They probably knew what they were doing when they showed up to the school with the Confederate flag.”

But the parent of one of the two students said this was not a racist decision, KDKA reported.

“It was flag day at school,” the parent said, according to KDKA. “He chose to wear something that had red, white and blue. We’ve had family that died under that flag so it’s not racial to us. We’ve already been in discussion with the school and agreed he wouldn’t wear it anymore.”

Norwin High School is in Irwin, a town about 22 miles southeast of Pittsburgh.

This story was originally published October 13, 2021 at 1:04 PM with the headline "Confederate flag clothes worn on ‘Merica Monday spark uproar at Pennsylvania school."