Five male students were asked to leave Live Oak High School this morning because they were wearing American flag T-shirts on Cinco de Mayo. Officials at the school could not be reached for comment, but one student said administrators called the T-shirts "incendiary."
"They said we were starting a fight, we were fuel to the fire," said Matt Dariano, a sophomore.
The five teens were sitting at a table outside during their brunch break around 10:10 a.m. when Assistant Principal Miguel Rodriguez asked two boys to take off their American flag bandannas that they were wearing on their heads. In the same conversation, student Dominic Maciel said, Rodriguez told the group to "walk with him to the office."
Dariano called his mother Diana, who spread the word to the other parents and all arrived soon after to have a conference with Rodriguez and Principal Nick Boden.
Maciel said they were told they must turn their T-shirts inside-out or be sent home. Maciel said they were told it wouldn't be considered a suspension but Rodriguez did not want any fights to break out among Mexican students and the group showing their American pride.
The boys said they thought turning the American flag inside-out was disrespectful, so all went home.
Dariano said Rodriguez indicated to him that while other students were wearing American flags, the group of five was "the easiest target to cause trouble."
"We were not going to start a fight. We wanted to show our pride," Dariano said. "In light of all of this, there are people with painted flags in red, green and white and yet the boys can't wear the American flag," Diana said.