A Colorado high school student wants an explanation from school officials after reportedly being told by security guards to remove American flags from his truck because they might make other students uncomfortable.
Jeremy Stoppel told Denver’s KMGH-TV he received a ticket at Northglenn High School last Thursday for squealing his tires and subsequently had his parking lot pass suspended for two weeks. But he also was told by a campus security guard to remove two U.S. flags — each 3-by-5 feet — from the bed of his pickup truck.
“She said I should take my flags down. She said this is a school that focuses on diversity and she doesn’t want anyone to feel uncomfortable,” Stoppel told KMGH-TV. “How do you suppose anyone would feel uncomfortable in America with an American flag? That’s where I’m confused.”
Stoppel said he began flying the flags last week and wants to keep them for the upcoming 9/11 anniversary in honor of his cousin who is serving in the Navy. Stoppel and his father now want an apology from the security supervisor.
“To me, she’s just threatening him, hoping that she can just bully him so he’ll just take ’em down and just put his tail between his legs and say, ‘I’m done. Sorry. Sorry. Sorry,’ Dan Stoppel told the station. “And that’s just not gonna happen.”
The school has no policy against flying the U.S. flag, KMGH-TV reports. Principal Mary Lindimore said she was unaware of the situation on Friday and promised to talk with the security official next week.
“So I need to talk to that person, see why they did that, if they did that,” Lindimore said. “We have ’em in the hallways upstairs. So we promote flying of American flags.”