Nevada school kids bullied for wearing MAGA caps, Internet is unsympathetic
Students supporting former US President Donald Trump has seemingly become taboo in Nevada high schools, resulting in threats from classmates as well as teachers. Parents from at least two high schools in the state told local reporters that their wards had faced threats after wearing clothing sporting the American flag and pro-Trump messages.
News of this comes after Trump himself became the butt of jokes for releasing a new signed version of the signature red 'Make America Great Again' hat that he made available for $40 and upwards on his website. Back in February 2019, before Joe Biden had become the president, a California school district had banned the hat, which led one student to call it a violation of the First Amendment. On October 2020, a Utah 15-year-old was even spat on and bullied for wearing a MAGA hat to school. The Nevada incident wasn't as extreme, but parents of students at Shadow Ridge High School and Arborview High School have expressed concern over the violent threats their children received.
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“It’s a sad day when you can’t drop off your kids to school without worrying about terrorist threats to other students,” Christopher Kennard, a concerned parent told local station KLAS. Two students also shared with 13 Action News that this particular incident set off a chain reaction across high schools in the valley. School administrators at Shadow Ridge High also allegedly told that student his Trump-related hat had to go, even though he was wearing it on his backpack.
Arborview High School senior Calvin Wasden claims he had reported the threats fearing he and his friends were targets. “This kid said he would come shoot up the school and not stop until he killed each and every one of us,” said Wasden. While some students claimed they were physically accosted in the hallways, another told the outlet that he was asked to remove a MAGA ballcap.
This prompted a concerned parent identified as Norman Maggio say: “As a military veteran, I think they should voice their opinion and they have the right. For them to be denied that it’s not right either." Another parent also alleged that the school issued a voicemail warning possible acts of violence, which stated: "We are aware of rumor of threats to both Shadow Ridge and Arborview High School and we take threats very seriously."
Social media, however, is far from empathetic towards the alleged plight of these students and parents. "I disagree with the bullying of course. But what kind of parents would send their kids to school wearing political clothes & gear? Asking for conflict, I'd say," one user tweeted. One more said: "Trump t-shirts, that's not patriotic at all."
I disagree with the bullying of course. But what kind of parents would send their kids to school wearing political clothes & gear? Asking for conflict, I'd say.
— Davis Barfield (@totalake) September 1, 2021