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
I'm waiting
Any response fro McAllen Parents?
... or should we send ALL of them back to Meh he ko?
Unfortunately, we do have libtards in Texas. Our schools, like all the other states, are controlled by the NeoCom, leftist, libtard agenda.
Unfortunately, we do have libtards down here in Texas, and most of our schools, like all the other states, are controlled by the NeoCom, leftist, libtard agenda.
If forced to say the Mexican pledge it would be denouncing her US citizenship. Then she would not aloud to have a government job or military inrollment
Way overdue for an infusion of American thinking Americans into the Schoolboard of the McAllen Independent School District. The teacher should be be given at minimum a two week furlough without pay for her unconstitutional and obviously anti-American actions. Why does "political correctness" so frequently end up becoming anti-Americanism?
Louis you're a man stating fact not fiction!
And it still can be a greater nation if we all get up off of our duffs and stand up for the Constitution of the U.S. and not cower to the Socialists and their Communist friends. When we do that the fence sitters will join us in re-creating a greater U.S.
God what is this once great nation coming to??????
Arthur, I know that some parents don't give a c34p; they are already brainwashed.
But that might be good news for those who do care.
The brainwashed are so uninterested, hopefully, they will fail to turn out when the GOOD Parents take over the school system.
Charter Schools are also good.
Yhe teacher should be fired now and the school board should be made to send out a notice that anyone that makes our kids pledge allegance to another country will fired on the spot and black listed for treasonist activity
-
1
-
2
-
3
-
4
-
5
of 10 Next