NJ Mom Defends Daughter’s Confederate Flag Shirt

The mother of a New Jersey middle school student says her daughter was wrongly suspended for a day after showing up at school in a sweatshirt emblazoned with the Confederate flag.

Jane West told The Times of Trenton her 14-year-old Virginia-born daughter should have the right to wear the shirt because the flag is part of her heritage. She says it's no different from other students being allowed to wear turbans or Jewish skullcaps.

School district officials say the dress code at Kreps Middle School in East Windsor does not specifically prohibit the Confederate flag. But if any symbol or attire causes a disruption that hinders learning, the student may be asked to change attire.

West says she told her daughter last week to refuse any request to turn the shirt inside out.