NFM students want Confederate flag banned at Lee Co. schools

NORTH FORT MYERS, Fla.- A debate is pitting freedom of expression against racial sensitivities.

Some students at North Fort Myers High School want the Confederate flag banned from school grounds. They’ve even taken their concerns to the NAACP, but the school district says you can’t simply silence student expression.

“It’s hurtful. It should be banned. This is a great day for Lee County. It’s a game changer,” said NAACP President James Muwakkil.

Muwakkil is standing behind three North Fort Myers students who have concerns over flying the Confederate flag.

“Now, you have more than a black man saying this, you have whites who are saying it, young people who are saying,” said Muwakkil.

Recently, a student showed up to school with a Confederate flag flying on the back of her truck. Now, the teens say the flag should be banned from school grounds saying it represents hate and racism. On Tuesday, the girls met with the attorney for the NAACP, asking for advice.

“These students believe it is a symbol of hate and I believe the student flying the flag thinks it’s a symbol of heritage,” said Scot Goldberg.

The Lee County School District sent WINK News a statement referencing a Supreme Court case saying

“The district cannot silence student expression just because they dislike it. At this time, the school has no evidence that the student expression of the flag would lead to a substantial disruption or an invasion of the rights of others.”

Goldberg says the girls disagree, but says the law may not be on their side.

If they cannot show it’s a disruption, then the individual flying the flag on their vehicle has every right to the First Amendment freedom of expression,” said Goldberg.

The girls will go in front of the school board in the next few weeks. The school district says the girls will also have a meeting this week with staff involved in editing the “Code of Conduct” to hear their concerns and ideas.