Texas officials are reacting to a local high school that, as part of a senior year tradition, painted over student-made pro-Trump designs in parking places.
Keller High School students can purchase $200 parking spaces and paint them so that they can park there during their final year. Two pupils made the decision to create portraits of the late President Donald Trump.
“Respectfully painting or celebrating a current or previous president is neither disrespectful nor contentious.”
After evaluating the drawings, the school sent an instruction to paint them over with gray paint.
The school informed WFAA-TV in a statement about its choice.
We can attest that certain areas had to have their paintwork redone due to the presence of content that may have unnecessarily disturbed the classroom atmosphere. Each year, a few kids try to paint their parking lot with a political statement, a contentious quote, or offensive language or imagery. Campus authorities then give them permission to redecorate their area.”
Following the story’s viral success on the internet, Texas officials announced they would intervene to change the school district’s behavior.
On Facebook, Board President Charles Randklev of the Keller Independent School District stated that the board will support the pro-Trump kids.
“Let me explain. Painting or paying tribute to a living or deceased US president in a dignified manner is neither insulting nor contentious. We’ll take measures to ensure that the kids understand they are free to recognize President Trump as the 45th and soon-to-be 47th President of the United States.”
In a social media message, Keller City Mayor Armin Mizani lambasted the education system in a similar manner.
“It’s not provocative or improper to paint a parking space with the likeness of a previous US president. There should be no problem with a president parking their car if there are pictures of several past presidents on our money. I have faith that the Keller ISD administration will make things right,” Mizani stated.
He continued by saying that if the youngsters chose to redo their designs, he would refund their families for the expense of painting.
Councilman Greg Will of Keller City also offered his thoughts on the event.
In a statement, Will expressed his confidence that the school board would act correctly to make sure individuals in charge of breaching the First Amendment rights of these youngsters would be suitably held accountable.
The population of Keller, a Dallas-Fort Worth suburb, is around 45,400.
