NC High School Student Denied Diploma for Wearing Mexico’s Flag

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Ever Lopez, an 18 year old high school student in North Carolina, was denied the ability to receive his diploma at his graduation ceremony on Thursday. The graduating senior is seen following the line of students walking onto the stage to shake hands and receive their diplomas as their names are being annouced. Video shows that Lopez was sticking out like a sore thumb amongst his fellow graduating students. Every student was wearing a blue graduation cap and gown. Lopez decided to wrap a Mexican flag over his neck in support of his ethnicity, like professional athletes do when celebrating a big win.

Credit: Adolfo Hurtado/Ever Lopez
Credit: Wally Skalij/Los Angeles Times/TNS

Lopez claims that he was not given his diploma because of the Mexican flag he was wearing. He also said that he has to apologize to the school. The video shows how Lopez received his diploma holder but was denied the diploma itself. He said the principal of the school confronted him on stage: “She was like, ‘You cannot be wearing that,’ and I was like — I was in shock. I was like, ‘What?’ And she was like, ‘You can’t be wearing that flag, it’s a distraction.’ I was like, ‘There’s no way you’re telling me this now.’”

Asheboro City Schools released a statement addressing the situation. The statement explains that, “the district strongly supports our student’s expressions of their heritage in the appropriate time and place. Our graduation dress code is clearly shared with students ahead of time and the wearing of a flag of any kind is a violation of the dress code.”

Here is the full statement from the Asheboro City School System:

“First and foremost, we strongly support our students’ expressions of their heritage at the appropriate time and place. Our graduation dress code is clearly shared with students ahead of time, and the wearing of a flag of any kind is a violation of the dress code. In the past two years, we have allowed students to decorate their mortarboards as a nod to their individuality and creativity. We are very clear with students that this was the ONLY acceptable deviation from the standard cap and gown regalia. Unfortunately, we will now be reevaluating that decision for future senior classes in light of the situation that occurred last night.

We continue working to resolve this issue with the student and his family so that he will receive his diploma from Asheboro High School. He has worked very hard and we commend him on this great achievement. We are confident in his abilities and we know he has a bright future ahead of him.

The accusations being made about our school and district are disheartening. We work with each student daily to ensure they receive rigorous instruction, equitable opportunity, and compassionate care in a safe and inviting learning environment. Across our school and district, we are passionate about seeing all students succeed.“

Lopez says that he read the policy but that he didn’t notice any stipulation implying that flags would not be allowed. Contrary to groupthink created outrage seen across Twitter, the school has said that they will give Lopez his diploma.

Asheboro City Schools released another statement due to the manipulated media spin on the incident. They relentlessly insist that Lopez was not denied his diploma because of his ethnicity, but because he didn’t follow the dress code. They claimed that, “the heart of the issue is the face that the student did not follow the established dress code for the event and detracted from the importance and the solemnity of the ceremony.”

Stay tuned to Media Right News for any updates.

Paul Aubert
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