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Michigan 6th Grader Assaulted by Teacher After Sitting During Pledge of Allegiance

 Hey guys for Complex News, I'm Natasha Martinez. //// An elementary school student learned that people in the spotlight aren't the only ones who experience harsh backlash for exercising their right to criticize our national system.  6th grader Stone Chaney was allegedly assaulted after he refused to stand for the Pledge of Allegiance at East Middle School in Farmington Hills, Michigan. According to Chaney, his teacher crossed the line and violently grabbed him from his seat, trying to force him to stand. The teacher is now under investigation and has been placed on leave.  The incident happened during Chaney's first week at East Middle School. He and his father described his experience to a local Michigan outlet: Chaney also described another teacher yelling at him for sitting down during the pledge the very next day. He explained that he doesn't stand because he doesn't pledge to a flag, he pledges to God and Family.  Chaney's father addressed the school district during their recent board meeting, and he explained that he and his family have made the conscious decision to not stand for the pledge over the last 20 years. Further, he said his son will not be returning to East Middle School after what he has gone through.  My wife and I, my father-in-law, my parents, my entire family — we’ve shed many, many emotions in the last four or five days... What we see on the TVs, what’s going on in America, it just came to my living room. Tears are done. I’m mad now. We’re looking for accountability. The school district also released a statement saying: "The District fully supports the right of each student to participate or not in the daily Pledge. The teacher allegedly involved in the incident has been placed on administrative leave. At this time, the District cannot speculate about the outcome of the pending investigation." For context here, in a 1943 ruling, the U.S. Supreme Court said students do have the right to decide whether to participate in the pledge or not. Chaney's father says that while the whole family has decided to not participate in the pledge or National Anthem, his son made his decision on his own. His father calls him a hero for standing up for what he believes in. /// That's your news for now, for more of today's trending stories subscribe to Complex on YouTube.