A video that has been circulating on social media platform X, formerly known as Twitter, has sparked controversy this week.
The video depicts a young elementary school student in Colorado Springs, Colorado being removed from class due to a Gadsden Flag patch on his backpack.
The clip, which appears to have been recorded by the student's mother, shows her, her son, and a school administrator engaged in a discussion about the boy's dismissal from class at The Vanguard School. The school staffer claims that the patch is "disruptive to the classroom environment" and has "origins with slavery."
Jaiden's mother, however, disagrees with the school staff member's assessment. She argues that the Gadsden Flag originated during the American Revolution as a symbol of the 13 colonies' fight against the British Crown and does not promote slavery.
The video begins with Jaiden, his mother, and the unnamed school administrator sitting down for a meeting in the administrator's office. The staff member explains, "So the reason that they do not want the flag the reason we do not want the flag displayed is due to its origins with slavery, and slave trade."
Jaiden's mother questions, "The Gadsden Flag?" The staff member confirms, "The 'Don't Tread on Me.'"
When the mother asks what would happen if Jaiden refuses to remove the patch, the staffer asserts, "The bag can't go back if it's got the patch on it because we can't have that in and around other kids."
Jaiden's mother challenges the decision, stating, "Yeah, it has nothing to do with slavery. That's like the revolutionary war patch that was displayed when they were fighting the British." She wonders if the staff member is mistaking it for the Confederate Flag.
The administrator responds, "I am here to enforce the policy that was provided by the district, and definitely, you have every right not to agree with it."
The mother and Jaiden confront the educator about other kids who have patches on their backpacks. The mother expresses her confusion about the policy being enforced.
The staff member suggests putting Jaiden's mother in touch with Jeff Yocum, The Vanguard School's Director of Operations.
Libertas Institute President Connor Boyack has obtained images of the email correspondence between Yocum and Jaiden's mother following their meeting at the school. Boyack shared these images on social media platform X.
According to the emails, Yocum references reports from mainstream news outlets that link the Gadsden Flag to racism. These reports claim that the flag was created by a slaveowner and is associated with displays of intolerance.
Yocum cites an article from The Conversation, which features a quote from Iowa State University graphic design scholar Paul Bruski. Bruski states, "Because of its creator's history and because it is commonly flown alongside 'Trump 2020' flags, the Confederate battle flag, and other white-supremacist flags, some may now see the Gadsden flag as a symbol of intolerance and hate or even racism."
Yocum also shares a Washington Post article that details a case involving the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) mandating the U.S. Postal Service to investigate a complaint made by one of its employees. The employee claimed that a coworker wearing a Gadsden Flag hat to work amounted to racial discrimination.
It is important to note that the EEOC did not make a judgment on whether racial discrimination occurred in that specific case. On its website, the EEOC states that it "did not find that the Gadsden Flag in fact is a racist symbol." However, it acknowledges that the flag has been "interpreted to convey racially-tinged messages in some contexts."
Based on these associations, Yocum and The Vanguard School made the decision to remove Jaiden from class.
Boyack also shares a portion of the correspondence that allegedly shows Yocum claiming that the patch violated the school's policy, which prohibits symbols that "Refer to drugs, tobacco, alcohol, or weapons."
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