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‘Racial Overtones’: HS Students Say They Were Suspended for Wearing Flag Bandanas and Chanting ‘USA! USA!’ at a Basketball Game

Feb. 14, 2013 9:59am Madeleine Morgenstern

California High School Students Say They Were Suspended for Flag Bandanas and USA Chant at Basketball Game

Image source: YouTube

Four California high school students claimed they were suspended for wearing patriotic bandanas and chanting “USA! USA!” during a school basketball game.

It happened last week at a game between rivals Camarillo High School and Rio Mesa High School in Ventura County, the Ventura County Star reported. The Rio Mesa students said a Camarillo associate principal warned spectators in the stands not to curse or make racial comments, then saw their bandanas and told them to either remove them or leave.

The four students went outside, then ran back in at halftime wearing the bandanas and leading a chant of “USA! USA!” according to the newspaper. That’s when they were escorted out and said they were handed five-day suspensions — punishments that were later lifted.

“We’ve done it always,” Austin Medeiros told the Star of wearing the bandanas. “It’s something we do. It’s the same group of friends. We always talk about it. We’re all very patriotic.”

Camarillo High principal Glenn Lipman disputed the students’ claim that they were suspended, but said they were asked to leave the campus. He told the Star that asking them to remove their bandanas was a precaution because of the diverse student bodies of both high schools. The schools each have large Hispanic populations.

Oxnard Union School District Superintendent Gabe Soumakian backed the principal, telling Fox News there were “racial overtones” to the “USA!” chant.

“There was symbolism there with the bandana and the chant,” Soumakian said, claiming it had “nothing to do with being patriotic or unpatriotic.”

“It has to do with the fact that they are making a chant regarding that we are from the USA and you’re not. Whether that’s the implied intent, that’s the way it comes across,” he said.

Soumakian also told Fox that chanting “USA!” does not comply with state athletic guidelines.

“They have to respect everyone,” he said. “When you go to a game – you cheer for your team and you don’t make any derogatory comments or make inappropriate comments toward the other team.”

Though the students’ punishments were lifted, Soumakian said the incident isn’t over.

“As a superintendent I think we need to pursue this further,” he said. “We need to work with teachers and students and the community about the concept of cultural proficiency.”

It’s not the first time a “USA! USA!” chant has been deemed inappropriate by school officials. Last year, Texas school officials filed a complaint after supporters of a rival team broke into the chant after clinching a regional championship.

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Comments (137)

Frederick_Douglass_Republican
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 2:07pm
To hell with Kalifornia

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MCGIRV
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 2:06pm
What the hell would you expect from Mexifornia ?

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FlameCCT
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 2:01pm
This story says more about the attitude of Mr Soumakian and school administration then about the students. They are the ones that assume that chanting USA in a USA public school is offensive. They are the ones that assume the people attending the event are not proud of being in the USA. They are the ones that assume the Hispanic population would be offended by the chant of USA.

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TheIggies
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 1:24pm
These boys are wrong, and I’m glad the school acted as it did. Patriotism is equal to racism and homophobia. There is no point to being so proudly patriotic that you wish to insult others. The only point of patriotism is to keep this planet seperate and fighting. People on the right don’t want a one-world government, because they like war, killing and death. That’s why they don’t like abortion…because they want the children to grow up and be murdered as soldiers so they can drink beer and spit on their graves while waving American flags.

Cowards and fools.

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Whatmeworry-never
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 1:02pm
Well I say everyone start chanting, “I will not comply”.

It is a weak-kneed world we live in where women are masculinized and men are feminized, illegals are just visiting and the rest of us are just mopes in The Dear Leaders view of the world. Lift your right hand in a tyranical salute to the Democratic Socialist Peoples Party Leader. I for one am looking forward tothe gigantic portraits of him on the sides of our buildings and the huge ego boosting statues, don’t forget the flies. Walking Eagel–the title given to him by the People of the 1st Nations is so full of fecal matter that he cannot walk and that is why the flies love him.

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high school drop out
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:46pm
Oh! This happened in “Commiefornia”? I,m shocked! And as far as the hispanics go i,m abit confused.. Why is the only item on their “agenda’ is amnesty for their buds??? Could it be something political? nahhh They claim its compassion. Well, if thats true then what about all the people in Africa now who have it much much worse than the hispanics do (starvation, disese, genocide) Should’nt they be allowed to ‘cut ahead in line “? Wheres the compassion for people of other races??…Like I said I,m confused ! What I do know is, if there were 10 million or so Italian illegals running around here the last thing I would be doing is making excuses for them or be coercing elected officials to make them legal..I,m an American first..Italian second

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CalRes
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:42pm
The super in charge email address is:sup@ouhsd.k12.ca.us
His twitter is @sup_du_jour. Let him know how you feel.

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What the Heck
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:39pm
I am offended that I have to kiss everyone ****, lay down my values, make every crazy group happy that are in our country, many illegally. Obam wins, I have crossed over, I don’t like ILLEGALS, Mexicans, or Muslims, or any one else here taht has come here ILLEGALLY,
Why come down on kids becasue they love their country and think it is the best??????
It is almost time some of these started kissing our butts.

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BlasberryStrat
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:38pm
These students are young and don’t understand yet that they ARE to be tolerant and bend backwards for Mexicans. Funny how we are allowed to spit on any other Country and Oby doesn’t care. But by God if we so much as ‘comment’ about Mexicans, Oby’s brigade will isolate your IP Address, collect all your family information, and come after yo……..uhhhh…..whoops…….gotta run.

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Joshua81
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:37pm
I don’t give a damn if they are “hispanic”, they are in the USA. You don’t being reminded of that then leave, I will not whisper the name of my country so I don’t offend people that hopped a fence because this place is so much better than where they are running from. You’re either Americans now and need to embrace that, or you’re Mexican and need to go back where you came from.

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media-bias-steals-elections
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:37pm
Obviously having this many youth in proximity to each other is a public hazard that should no longer be tolerated, we should outlaw public schools, and demand parents, you made it, you teach it?

Or would that lead to children respecting parents more than perfect strangers, and we can’t have that?

Welcome to the new world order?

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RightThinking1
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:26pm
Sounds like something Chris Matthews would say. “Chanting ‘USA’ is a racist dog whistle..”

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Pacman116
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:24pm
“He told the Star that asking them to remove their bandanas was a precaution because of the diverse student bodies of both high schools. The schools each have large Hispanic populations.”

Who gives a flip what the populations are? Last time I checked California was still a US state. I know some idiots like this principal think otherwise, but that’s his problem. Enough of the PC BS. I’m so sick of people thinking someone’s gonna get their feelings hurt.

“There was symbolism there with the bandana and the chant,” Soumakian said, claiming it had “nothing to do with being patriotic or unpatriotic.”

WTH??? You dang right there’s symbolism in the flag you jackwagon! And we wonder why our education system is in a mess? It’s because you have left-wing nutcases like this running them.

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tljjjjcline
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:08pm
USA is not a racially charged statement, What is are these people of Mexican decent or whatever that do not perceive themselves as Americans. Now I fined this to be racially charged and offensive. If there not Americans then what the hell are they doing here and what the hell is wrong with our impotent citizens and govt. If they won’t stand up for the USA then we are truly finished.

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easye2984
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:57am
Has the principal been fired yet? What is his name?

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piper60
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:43am
WE all should email and tweet this school with “USA,USA,USA,USA,USA”.

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Charles Curtis
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:42am
“:Racial Overtones:” the BS detector went to 100% at that line – The USA Cheer was led by bandanna wearing – apparently from the video @ :13 seconds… 1 Causation, 2 Hispanic, and participated in by people that appear to be of Asian, Native American, African and Polynesian descent. Thus not divisive, however rather unifying. Which leads one to question the veracity, capability, and the honor of the ‘leadership’ that is in charge of our children in these schools. When that ‘authority’ can not correctly identify good from evil, how will they guide these, our most valued treasure, into a safe, prosperous, successful future. Foundations matter, and their foundation show serious flaws. Find some paper and resign now before the parents sue you for violating the civil rights of their treasure.

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tljjjjcline
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:39am
I keep telling you people get your kids out of these communist Govt schools. They will be Amerika’s demise. We are destroying our children with communist Marxist indoctrination. Your children are not receiving an education at least not the one you intended. It’s time to start being a parent again and stop expecting the nanny state to do your job.

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truemedia
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:38am
why is it racial Surely these mexican immigrants who are in the US love this country as their FUTURE fellowship young citizens do Hummmm

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Really2012
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:38am
Really???
Oxnard Union School District Superintendent Gabe Soumakian backed the principal, telling Fox News there were “racial overtones” to the “USA!” chant.
“There was symbolism there with the bandana and the chant,” Soumakian said, claiming it had “nothing to do with being patriotic or unpatriotic.”

If I try hard enough, I can imagine that everything everyone says and does has symbolism and is racist..

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- RightThinking1
  Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:27pm
  Chris Matthews does it regularly.
  
  Report this comment
lamarlamar
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:37am
My children go to a private school for a reason! No union, parental input, and NO GOVERNMENT MONEY!!! It’s time to drain the swamp so goodness can grow!

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- symphonic
  Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:47am
  public school IS socialism.
  
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sparky239
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:30am
its high time to fire that moron superintendent for being so ignorant,Since when did the chant USA become racial overtone????only thing racial is the stupidity of the school district and the lame ass morons who keep them in power..

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GuruMeditation
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:30am
I say… U.S.A! U.S.A!

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Gargent_Furball
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:20am
Who was the one that complained ?

Toss that Bastard Out.

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symphonic
Posted on February 14, 2013 at 11:03am
Its just stupid not to see the implications.

Shouting USA USA when the basketball game has NOTHING to do with the Olympics, is just the same as saying “your not of the USA” and that must mean you are talking about the color of their skin. Anyone who can’t see that is just bonehead.

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- RightThinking1
  Posted on February 14, 2013 at 12:31pm
  Symphonic,
  
  Why do you assume anything about the color of the opposing team’s skin color?
  
  Report this comment

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