Upstate school district defends decision to not allow American flag into football game
aug 28 2016 TRAVELERS REST, S.C. —The Greenville County School District and principals of Travelers Rest and Berea high school are responding to claims students weren't allowed to carry American flags into a football game between the two schools.
Several people have reached out to WYFF News 4 and posted about the incident on social media, claiming the principal would not allow them to carry U.S. flags into Friday night's football game because it might offend Berea High School's Hispanic community.
On Saturday afternoon, Principal Lou Lavely told WYFF News 4, "the flag has been used in the past to taunt Berea students and community that has led to confrontation. Student safety (and in the case of a football game, safety of all attending) is our primary concern. It is the responsibility of the school to provide the safest environment possible and no object, sign, chants by students, etc. would be permitted if they compromise safety."
When responding to WYFF News 4's questions Lavely added, "Using the American flag as a method to taunt or someway degrade another school is disrespectful to the American flag in itself."
Also on Saturday, Berea High School Principal Mike Noel issued a statement saying, "I am in full support of Mr. Lavely's actions at the football game on Friday night. He was protecting the greatest symbol of our nation, the American flag. His decision was based on the premise that the American flag should not be used in a disrespectful or unsportsmanlike like manner. He made the right decision.
