American Student Punished for Refusing to Recite Mexican Pledge
Feb 27, 2013
A Texas high school student has filed a federal lawsuit against her school and her teachers after she was punished for refusing to salute and recite the Mexican pledge of allegiance.
The Thomas More Law Center filed the suit on behalf of Brenda Brinsdon alleging the McAllen Independent School District violated the 15-year-old girl’s constitutional rights when she was forced to recite the Mexican pledge and sing the Mexican national anthem.
Click here to read the lawsuit.
Brinsdon, who is the daughter of a Mexican immigrant and an American father, refused. She believed it was un-American to pledge a loyalty oath to another country.
Ironically, the school district has a policy that prohibits a school from compelling students to recite the American Pledge of Allegiance.
The district also has a written policy that excuses students from reciting text from the Declaration of Independence if the student “as determined by the district, has a conscientious objection to the recitation.”
“There is a sad trend in public schools across our nation to undermine American patriotism,” said Richard Thompson president of the Thomas More Law Center. “But it’s encouraging to see students like Brenda stand up for America despite pressure from school officials.”
The TMLC told Fox News the district ignored its own rules when Brinsdon refused to recite the pledge of a foreign country.
What’s most troubling is the different treatment for someone wanting to opt out of reciting the American Pledge of Allegiance compared to someone as a matter of conscience wants to opt out of reciting the Mexican pledge,” spokesman Erin Mersino told Fox News.
A spokesman for the McAllen Independent School District told Fox News they had not seen a copy of the lawsuit.
The recitation of the Mexican pledge and the singing of the Mexican national anthem was part of a 2011 Spanish class assignment at Achieve Early College High School. The teacher, Reyna Santos, required all her students to participate in the lesson.
When Brinsdon refused to back down – she was punished, the lawsuit alleges. She was given an alternative assignment on the Independence of Mexico. The teacher gave her a failing grade – and then required the student to sit in class over a period of several days to listen to other students recite the Mexican pledge.
The lawsuit states Brinsdon offered to recite the American pledge in Spanish but the teacher refused her request.
“It’s astonishing that this Texas school would deny Brenda her right of conscience and free speech not to pledge allegiance to a foreign country,” said Thompson. “Too many Americans – including those of Mexican descent – have suffered and died protecting our nation.”
And while she is fluent in Spanish and English and is proud of her Mexican heritage, Brinsdon is a “true-blooded American,” Mersino added.
Mersino said it was especially troubling to watch video of students in the class standing up, extending their arms straight out, palms down and reciting the pledge of a foreign country.
“It’s disturbing – it truly was troubling,” she said.
Comments
A famous Quote "GIVE ME YOUR CHILDREN FOR ONE GENERATION AND I WILL HAVE YOUR COUNTRY"
I agree with Leon, Adolfo, William, Mary and Arthur. WE ARE IN THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA Not in Mexico, FIRE THE TEACHER AND WHOEVER DEVELOPED THE TEACHING PLAN. THIS IS A DISGRACE TO THE US.
My hat's off to this young lady! This is the character of people we so desperately need. Our political and judicial system has become rogue and must be brought under control. School official who continue to enforce this kind of blatant discrimination against citizens must be fired and imprisioned regardless of the "rules" they claim they're following. Again - my hat's off to you young lady!
apparently the school will be punished plenty when she wins this law suit
There should be punishment, only it should be the teacher and especially the school not the student
Unbelieveble that this should even be happening, Patritism shuld be required in school,whats wrong with this picture ? This needs to be adressed and fixed contact the congress and senate in texas,something needs fixing here.
Fire the teacher! To what avail is it for an American student to recite the Mexican pledge of allegiance? If it's a Spanish class and the teacher wants to hear the student recite in Spanish, then the teacher should have the class recite the American Pledge of Allegiance. The teacher must be a member of La Raza and hold hostilities for America. The teacher has no business teaching because that is a direct affront to American Patriotism and the blood spent on liberty and freedom.
THEM AND NOBODY TOLD US ? HEEEEELP!!!!!!
NO law suit run no throw the teacher out in disgrace
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