High School Student Kicked Out of Virtual Class for Displaying a Trump Banner in his Home

Anthony Ribeiro is a 17 year old high school honor student in New Jersey and had a Trump flag on a wall behind him. He, like many students across the country, have been participating in virtual distance learning due to the covid-19 crisis and subsequent lockdowns all over the US. Anthony goes to Toms River High School and said that two of his teachers have asked him to remove the sign.

He said that on October 8 his chemistry teacher told him he could either take the poster down or leave the class, he didn’t want to take it down, so he waved a goodbye to his classmates and left the virtual classroom. Then, the next day his English teacher asked him to remove the sign because it could be offensive to other students. Anthony didn’t want to, but he did, later saying that he regretted that decision. “Looking back I kind of regret it because I have the right in my house to do what I believe. This should not happen to anyone.”

He is right. This shouldn’t happen to anyone. He is in his own home with his own property. The teachers had no right to make him take down the sign. There is no justification for this.

Anthony’s mom, Tara Jost, was very angry with the teachers. She said it was absurd and that those teachers owe him an apology. Anthony and his mom reached out to the school and the vice principal said that he didn’t do anything wrong and the teachers were the ones in the wrong. The vice principal told Anthony he could leave the sign up.

The school district said Anthony didn’t violate any school policy or code of conduct related to virtual learning. They also said that any attempt for him to remove the flag went against district policy. The district is working with Anthony, his mom, and the teachers to get this resolved and to “move forward.”

Sources: Asbury Park Press, Daily Wire; Photo- New Jersey 101.5