A high school cheerleading squad in North Carolina has been put “on probation” following a photo on social media reaching the North Carolina High School Athletic Association, who determined that it was inappropriate for cheerleaders to take such a picture.
The photo, of course, was the cheerleading squad posing with a “Trump 2020: Make America Great Again” banner on their school’s football field just before a game.
The decision to put the cheerleaders "on probation" has stirred up outrage across the nation, and now, local North Carolina residents are rallying for the cheerleading squad who were punished for their support of President Trump.
Nearly 200 people have signed up for an event to show their support for the North Stanly High School Cheerleaders that will take place on Friday.
You can check out the Facebook event here.
The NCHSAA said in a statement that the reason for putting the squad "on probation" was because "the display of the sign could be perceived as the school or school system endorsing a political campaign.”
However, you've gotta ask if the cheerleaders would have come under fire for supporting a Democrat or holding a "pro-choice" abortion banner!
The Washington Times has more details on why the high school cheerleaders have been punished:
Stanly County Schools Superintendent Jeff James told The Associated Press in an email Monday that the warning was levied by the North Carolina High School Athletic Association.
It happened before the Aug. 30 game at North Stanly High School, northeast of Charlotte. News outlets reported that the banner read: “Trump 2020: Make America Great Again.”
The superintendent said the probation simply means “don’t do it again.” He says all North Carolina schools have a policy against displaying political signs.
The Charlotte Observer had the following to say about the locals who are speaking up to defend the girls:
Residents have taken to social media to share their concerns over the the NCHSAA decision.
Some community members created an event on Facebook scheduled for Friday night to support the cheerleading squad, which they say was wrongly punished.
“Please come out and help me show the school and the NCHSAA that freedom of speech is not dead,” the event description states. “Please bring all your Trump and MAGA gear and lets throw our support behind the North Stanly High School cheerleaders.”
More than 90 people had RSVP’d by Monday afternoon while another 749 people had marked themselves “interested.”
“Ridiculous!!! Whether or not you like the president should not play a factor,” one person wrote on the event page. “We live in a country with freedom of speech!! Let those girls cheer!!!!”
Rep. Richard Hudson, R-N.C., sent a letter to NCHSAA officials Thursday asking them to walk back the decision.
“As the representative of Stanly County, I am appalled these students are being punished for exercising their First Amendment right to free speech,” he said.
Hudson added that students should be allowed to partake in the political process, saying they “did not cause a scene, participate in a protest or break any school code of conduct.”
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