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
It seems the only adult in the class room was the young student. All over this country young people whose minds are being molded .. are being mold by people who do not like their country, nor understand what this country stands for. You cannot hang a flag in many schools because you might make someone feel bad. You must have lessons in something other than English-when if they would take these students for a 6 weeks course in phoenix , English is no problem. These kids are taught the founding fathers bad. This country is bad. Tear it down. It seems we will not have to worry about bringing in poor, uneducated workers because we are growing our own. In some schools they are taught how great it is to be a Muslim. But no school prayers for the Christen students. Years ago Bill Ayers said he wished he gone the education route first instead of the bombing and murders.. he can brainwash the whole country this way-more profitable and a lot easier. Parents better demand an education and find out what your kids are being taught. You can only depend on yourself.
I think the Mexicans are trying to take back some of this country but I would hope and wish if they might succeed it would be California and not Texas. LOL
That is so insane! Talk about "political-correctness" out of control... How correct is it to force her to pledge allegience to another country! That teacher should be fired immediately. This is just one more piece of evidence that liberals are ruining this country. As an American and a Texan, I am outraged!
maybe there should be a gruop called THE WIDE AWAKE for far to many AMERICANS are asleep or blind or believes the untruths. the wide awkes where a political party of many years back and though i can't say i agrreed with several agendas i do like the name. HOW CAN IT BE THAT ONE'S SUPPOSE TO GIVE A PLEDGE TO ANOTHER COUNTRY? SUE THEM FOR ALL THEY HAVE. YET,I MUST SAY FAR TOO MANY JUDGES DON'T GO BY U.S. LAW BUT THEIR OWN,GOOD LUCK TEXAN!!
Everything American is slowly and methodically being taken over. They are further along than the public knows. That is why they are so bold, you know, in your face.
Wow, Proud TEXAN! and disgusted with the assignment! You gut that school board for every penny so they don't have money left to teach the border brats! P.S. I don't speak English either, I speak American! I'm married to an American and have taught my children to be very proud of their Mexican heritage but I'll be damned if I would put up with that crap, that libtard, or anything else that seems to slide by there as OK.
McAllen Texas: Right on the border, 85% Hispanic, 70% Democrat, full of illegals. Questions?
Sounds like someone needs to get off their arse.
Sounds like she was given gestapo treatment. These people need a good old fashioned a## whippin. You know... the one you open up in a can. I am going to do my own leftist tactics. I am going to call all my credit card companies and tell them I will not pay my debts until we have a president that sets a good example. but I am a radical and don't mind the consequences. But I am sure a lot of the banks on these cards support obama. This is a tactic that if all of us used would put a crunch on the banks. I know it is extreme, but we must fight fire with fire. Wished I lived on the border because I would do something else if those illegals want to flaunt their B.S. around my American property.
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