The historical Gadsden Flag, commonly recognized as the “Don’t Tread on Me” flag, has its origins tracing back to the period of the American Revolutionary War. This emblem was conceived by General Christopher Gadsden of the Continental Army with the intention of symbolizing solidarity in opposition to the British. Notably, there has been a recent incident where a student faced disciplinary action due to its display.
On August 28, a 12-year-old named Jaiden, who attends The Vanguard School in Colorado Springs, Colorado, found himself in a situation where he was instructed to leave his classroom. It’s important to note that Jaiden wasn’t causing any disruptions or showing disrespect while at school. Rather, he faced this action because he was reportedly asked to remove a Gadsden Flag patch from his backpack. When he declined to comply, school administrators decided to remove him from the classroom.
In a video shared on X, previously known as Twitter, an administrator can be heard explaining to the young student that they didn’t want the flag displayed in the school due to its alleged associations with slavery and the slave trade. However, it’s worth clarifying that the flag’s origins do not have any direct connection to either of these historical events.
During the conversation with the school administrator, Jaiden’s mother provided a correction, explaining that the flag’s origins date back to the Revolutionary War when America was asserting its independence. She further inquired if the administrator might have confused it with the Confederate flag. Despite this clarification, the administrator remained steadfast in her decision and declined to allow the pre-teen to return to the classroom, citing adherence to the district’s regulations.
The individual who originally shared the video, Connor Boyack, serving as the president of Libertas Institute, provided an update to the public on August 29. He shared a copy of an email received from The Vanguard School Board of Directors, who, upon learning of the incident, promptly convened an emergency meeting in response.
The board affirmed its longstanding commitment to upholding the principles of the American Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the concept of ordered liberty since the school’s establishment. Furthermore, the Board acknowledged the historical importance of the Gadsden flag and its place in our nation’s history. Consequently, they made the decision to allow the student to resume attending school and permitted him to display the flag on his backpack.
