Confederate Flag-Wearing High School Kid Suspended: Report

CRYSTAL LAKE, IL — A junior at Prairie Ridge High School was suspended after he wore a Confederate flag tied around his neck twice this week, the Northwest Herald has reported.

Hunter Bloom, 16, first wore the flag around his neck Tuesday after he brought it in for a U.S. History project, the Northwest Herald reported. He was told not to wear it again but came back with it around his neck the day after the election anyway, the newspaper said.

Here is Bloom’s rationale, according to the Northwest Herald:

• “I brought in the flag to basically enlighten other students of my vision of the flag itself. And by doing so I enlightened the entire school when I walked down the hallway.”
• “I’m not a racist person. I just support pro-freedom, and I support independence and pride – and that’s what the flag stands for.”

And here’s what his dad, Kevin Bloom, had to say, according to the Northwest Herald:

• “I guess the bottom line is Hunter feels like if other things are allowed, why can he not have the flag?”

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