New Jersey Student Wears Shirt With Confederate Flag; Mother Defends Her

Ignorance is bliss.

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A New Jersey mother is heated because her daughter was allegedly suspended for wearing a shirt bearing the confederate flag. Jane West is so angry about the situation that she wants to remove her daughter, Torri Albrecht, from Melvin Kreps Middle School. The superintendent won't divulge exactly why Albrecht was suspended, but says it wasn't because of the shirt. West, however, doesn't buy it.

At the same time, West sees no problem with her daughter wearing the shirt, or the confederate flag in general. In a feeble attempt to defend her daughter, she says "The Indian kids wear their turbans. The Jewish kids wear their yarmulkes. That’s their birthright." She explained that Torri should have the same opportunity to express herself because she was "born in Virginia" and the flag is "her heritage."

West says that her family isn't racist, even mentioning that her oldest daughter is biracial. You'd think that would be a good reason for her to be more aware, but you can never give people credit for using common sense. There's nothing offensive about a yarmukle or a turban, but the confederate flag is still associated with racism, so you have to understand why others might be offended. Some people just don't get it.

[via Gothamist]

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