High school cheerleaders on probation for posing with pro-Trump banner

A high school cheerleading squad in North Carolina was put on probation Monday for posing with a pro-President Trump banner at a football game.

Members of the North Stanly High School squad posed for photos with the “Trump 2020: Make America Great Again” flag at an Aug. 30 game with the theme of “American — where students were encouraged to dress patriotically, the Stanly News & Press reported.

One photo — depicting seven girls in red, white and blue cheer uniforms and two boys in red “MAGA” caps with the banner — circulated on social media.

Some residents questioned why the political message had been allowed. All North Carolina high schools have a policy that prohibit students from displaying political signs on campus or at school events.

District officials said the following day that the act wasn’t endorsed by school or staff and that a student had brought the banner in and taken the photo before the game.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association reprimanded the team on Monday but hasn’t “defined the terms of the probation” — and the squad is expected to continue cheering, the school district said in a statement.

“The focus of Friday night football games should be on our students – the players, cheerleaders, band members – the focus should not be on politics,” Stanly County Schools said. “For this reason, we are hopeful the situation will resolve, and our student athletes can have a successful fall season.”

Probation — which can last up to one year — isn’t a form of punishment, but “a notice of behavior or action that is against NCHSAA Handbook Policy or contrary to expectations of sportsmanship and proper behavior,” Commissioner Que Tucker told McClatchy news group.

Still, some residents were outraged about the reprimand.

“I am totally shocked by this,” one person wrote on Facebook. “I don’t care if you are a Republican or a Democrat, you should have the right to openly support the president of the USA!!”

Others created a Facebook event calling for supporters to attend this week’s game in support of the team.

“Please come out and help me show the school and the NCHSAA that freedom of speech is not dead,” the organizer wrote. “Please bring all your Trump and MAGA gear and lets throw our support behind the North Stanly High School cheerleaders.”

District officials said the policy against political displays on campus or school events “does not prohibit students from speaking their minds or engaging in protected First Amendment activities.”

“Because the cheerleaders were in uniform and were acting as representatives of the school, the display of the sign could be perceived as the school or school system endorsing a political campaign,” the officials said.

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