Lawmakers are calling for changes in Oklahoma over a high school student and an American flag. It stems from a decision during the week of Aug. 18, in which the student was told to stop flying the flag on his truck.
The decision prompted a wave of protests outside of Edmond North High School. Students, parents and members of the public are proudly displaying American flags in support of the student, including Oklahoma’s State Superintendent Ryan Walters.
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Caleb Horst, a senior at the school, said he’s baffled by its decision to ban the flag on his truck. Especially because he’s been flying it for some time. Horst spoke to an Oklahoma City ABC affiliate and shared his thoughts on the incident.
Since speaking out, there’s been a surge of support, some also coming from local lawmakers. Many are demanding that the school’s decision be overturned.
The Edmond Public School District said its policy prohibits any flags on vehicles to prevent disruptions and ensure safety in the school parking lot. Still, that explanation hasn’t calmed community backlash.
Superintendent Walters is vowing to amend the guidelines for all public schools in the state. He posted a video on X, stating his stance that no school in Oklahoma should restrict a student from flying the American flag.
The protest in Edmond has even caught the attention of “Dukes of Hazard” star John Schneider, who posted a video applauding Horst’s efforts.
The district said it will handle any discipline on a case-by-case basis. And despite the growing support for Horst, the school district is holding firm on its policy and threatening disciplinary action if Horst does not comply.
Horst said he plans to continue his fight and is touched by the overwhelming community support.
Karah Rucker
LAWMAKERS ARE CALLING FOR CHANGES IN OKLAHOMA – ALL OVER A HIGH SCHOOL STUDENT AND HIS AMERICAN FLAG.
IT STEMS FROM A DECISION LAST WEEK – WHERE THE STUDENT WAS TOLD TO STOP FLYING THE FLAG ON HIS TRUCK.
THE DECISION HAS SPARKED A WAVE OF PROTESTS OUTSIDE OF EDMOND NORTH HIGH SCHOOL, WHERE STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE NOW PROUDLY DISPLAYING MULTIPLE AMERICAN FLAGS IN SUPPORT OF THE STUDENT INCLUDING OKLAHOMA’S STATE SUPERINTENDENT RYAN WALTERS.
CALEB HORST, A SENIOR AT THE SCHOOL, SAYS HE’S BAFFLED BY THE SCHOOL’S DECISION TO BAN THE FLAG ON HIS TRUCK, ESPECIALLY BECAUSE HE’S BEEN FLYING IT FOR SOME TIME. HORST SPOKE TO THE OKLAHOMA CITY ABC-AFFILIATE LAST WEEK AND SHARED HIS THOUGHTS ON THE INCIDENT.
SINCE SPEAKING OUT, THERE’S BEEN A SURGE OF SUPPORT FROM OTHER STUDENTS, PARENTS AND EVEN LOCAL LAWMAKERS. MANY ARE DEMANDING THAT THE SCHOOL’S DECISION BE OVERTURNED.
THE EDMOND PUBLIC SCHOOLS DISTRICT SAYS THEIR POLICY PROHIBITS ANY FLAG ON VEHICLES TO PREVENT DISRUPTIONS AND ENSURE SAFETY IN THE SCHOOL PARKING LOT. STILL, THAT EXPLANATION HASN’T CALMED THE COMMUNITY’S BACKLASH.
SUPERINTENDENT WALTERS IS VOWING TO AMEND THE GUIDELINES FOR ALL PUBLIC SCHOOLS IN THE STATE. HE POSTED A VIDEO ON X, STATING HIS STANCE THAT NO SCHOOL IN OKLAHOMA SHOULD RESTRICT STUDENT FROM FLYING THE AMERICAN FLAG.
THE PROTEST IN EDMOND HAS EVEN CAUGHT THE ATTENTION OF “DUKES OF HAZZARD” STAR JOHN SCHNEIDER, WHO POSTED A VIDEO APPLAUDING HORST’S EFFORTS.
THE DISTRICT SAYS IT WILL HANDLE ANY DISCIPLINE ON A CASE-BY-CASE BASIS. AND DESPITE THE GROWING SUPPORT, THE SCHOOL DISTRICT IS HOLDING ON FIRM ON ITS POLICY, THREATENING DISCIPLINARY ACTION IF HORST DOESN’T COMPLY.
HORST SAYS HE PLANS TO CONTINUE HIS FIGHT AND IS TOUCHED BY THE OVERWHELMING COMMUNITY SUPPORT.
WE’LL CONTINUE TO FOLLOW THIS STORY AND BRING YOU UPDATES AS THEY HAPPEN.
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