Rebel flag petition sparks war of words

[KG]

A Tarpon Springs High student is suspended for circulating a petition that would ban such symbols.
By CANDACE RONDEAUX, Times Staff Writer
Published January 30, 2004

TARPON SPRINGS - About 100 Tarpon Springs High School students had signed Krista Abram's petition to ban the Confederate flag at school before an assistant principal gave her a talking-to Tuesday.

This is a sensitive issue, he told her, and added that the school would rather just leave it alone. Go home, he said.

She did and hasn't been back since.

On Thursday, Abram, 16, and her petition were at home while she served a 10-day suspension for distributing "unauthorized material," according to a letter from the school. But the T-shirts with the stars and bars are still on campus.

"I definitely anticipated some kind of consequences for not getting the petition approved," the 16-year-old junior said. "But I think 10 days is harsh."

So does Paula Lopez, Abram's mother. A medical assistant who recently moved to Tarpon Springs from Pittsburgh, Lopez said she's especially sensitive to issues of racial discrimination because all three of her children are biracial. Incensed by the school's policy and her daughter's treatment, she plans to appeal her daughter's suspension.

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http://www.stpetersburgtimes.com/2004/01/30/Northpinellas/Rebel_flag_petition_s.shtml

[Enjolras]

1. How much opposition would there be .....

to a petition to ban the French flag at the school?

This is so stupid. When did France ever take up arms against the United States?