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School Suspends Teens for Wearing Crucifixes
AP ^ | February 25, 2008

Posted on 02/25/2008 6:02:56 PM PST by Mount Athos

A pair of Albany teenagers suspended for "gang-related behavior" because they were wearing crucifixes say they were only wearing gifts from their mothers.

Jaime Salazar, 14, his friend Marco Castro, 16, were suspended from South Albany High School recently after they refused to put away the crucifixes they were wearing around their necks.

Salazar said Principal Chris Equinoa saw his necklace and told him to put it away. "I was like, why?" Salazar said. "He says it's related to gangs."

Salazar said he argued and was sent to the office. Instead, he went home. Later, he received a note saying he had been suspended for five days for "defiance and gang-related behavior."

Castro, a junior, was suspended for three days after refusing to take off a string of milky rosary beads, with a crucifix and a tiny picture of the Virgin Mary, that he was wearing around his neck. His mother gave it to him, he said.

Equinoa said religious items are not banned. But, as principal, he reserves the right to ask a student to remove, or cover up, any item he feels could indicate gang affiliation even a crucifix.

The school district backs him up.

Principals have the latitude to determine the difference between genuine religious observance and gang symbols, said Jim Haggart, executive assistant to the superintendent.

"We're not trying to squash any religious symbols and we're not trying to get into religion, but we are trying to get into student safety, and that's what we're really concerned about," Haggart said.

Equinoa said he could not comment on specific student discipline issues. But he said any directive to a student to remove or cover any item, religious or otherwise, would not be made without other information.

(Excerpt) Read more at foxnews.com ...


TOPICS: Culture/Society; News/Current Events; US: New York
KEYWORDS: antichristian; chrisequinoa; christian; christianpersecution; christianstudents; cross; crucifix; dresscodes; education; gangs; homeschoolingisgood; persecution; publiceducation; publicschool; publicschools; southalbany
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1 posted on 02/25/2008 6:02:58 PM PST by Mount Athos
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To: metmom; Tired of Taxes; Aquinasfan; wintertime; wagglebee; narses; Salvation

This is so wrong on so many levels.


2 posted on 02/25/2008 6:07:57 PM PST by Clintonfatigued (You can't be serious about national security unless you're serious about border security)
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To: Mount Athos

The principal had better watch for the Mezuzah gang.

3 posted on 02/25/2008 6:09:54 PM PST by Mike Darancette (Democrat Happens!)
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To: Mount Athos

The school has definitely violated these girls’ First Amendment rights. IMHO.


4 posted on 02/25/2008 6:11:28 PM PST by FlingWingFlyer (In November, we're going to be able to elect politicians who say they can change the weather. YAY!)
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To: Mount Athos
"He says it's related to gangs."

Yeah, those 12 Apostle dudes are really baaaad!

Why does this bozo Principal. Chris Equinoa still have a job?

5 posted on 02/25/2008 6:12:06 PM PST by Natty Bumppo@frontier.net (The facts of life are conservative -- Margaret Thatcher)
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Comment #6 Removed by Moderator

To: Clintonfatigued
From reading about this earlier today on another thread, I learned that the Latin Kings, among others, actually DO use crucifixes as part of their gang symbols. One poster said that the type of cross described here (beaded) is exactly what they wear.

It's a shame when a gang co-opts a religious symbol

7 posted on 02/25/2008 6:13:26 PM PST by SoftballMominVA
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To: Mount Athos
Yesterday
8 posted on 02/25/2008 6:14:39 PM PST by ASA Vet
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Comment #9 Removed by Moderator

Comment #10 Removed by Moderator

To: FlingWingFlyer

“The school has definitely violated these girls’ First Amendment rights. IMHO.”

They aren’t girls.


11 posted on 02/25/2008 6:20:45 PM PST by Kirkwood
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To: SoftballMominVA

>>From reading about this earlier today on another thread, I learned that the Latin Kings, among others, actually DO use crucifixes as part of their gang symbols. One poster said that the type of cross described here (beaded) is exactly what they wear.

It’s a shame when a gang co-opts a religious symbol<<

I have a core problem with banning expression in the first place - blue bandanna or whatever.

When it starts to include religions symbols the state has really over stepped.

If the gangs are engaging in criminal activity prosecute them vigorously for that - banning their clothing or jewelry is wrong, IMO. Its not unlike the people who ban guns instead of punishing crime committed with guns.


12 posted on 02/25/2008 6:21:06 PM PST by gondramB (Preach the Gospel at all times, and when necessary, use words.)
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To: SoftballMominVA
It's a shame when a gang co-opts a religious symbol

I believe Hitler did the same thing with the swatica (spel?)

13 posted on 02/25/2008 6:21:15 PM PST by processing please hold ( "It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.")
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To: Clintonfatigued
Quite a few years ago, we had problems with kids wearing rosary beads in school (I teach at a middle school) In that case it was drug related. The color beads worn indicated what type of drugs they were selling.

We told those wearing the rosary beads (only members of a gang that quickly disbanded after the administration had a chat with the police department) that they could be worn but had to be under their shirts.

14 posted on 02/25/2008 6:25:05 PM PST by mware (Americans in arm chairs doing the job that the media refuses to do.)
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To: Morgana

Here’s a thought... have ALL the kids return to school wearing crosses and crucifixes in defiant display.
Let’s see the school try to send ALL of them home after that.


15 posted on 02/25/2008 6:30:03 PM PST by tflabo (Truth or tyranny)
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To: processing please hold
It's a shame when a gang co-opts a religious symbol
I believe Hitler did the same thing with the swatica (spel?)

Indeed he did. The swastic (sp?) is a sanskrit symbol that has thousands of years of historical significance in Hinduism as do the Aryans, who were not necessarily white, blonde, blue eyed, etc. Hitler hijacked these things and changed the way the swastic and the term "aryan" are perceived forever.

16 posted on 02/25/2008 6:32:09 PM PST by American Infidel (It's pronounced 'ASK' not 'AXE'. It's a 3 letter word. How difficult can it be?)
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To: Mount Athos

They were told to put them away or out of view. The kids are hispanic and so is the pricipal. They were not told to throw them away.

I support school officials until I have proof that they are wrong.


17 posted on 02/25/2008 6:33:14 PM PST by Soliton
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To: Natty Bumppo@frontier.net

Don’t forget those Amish gangs.


18 posted on 02/25/2008 6:34:46 PM PST by purpleraine
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To: American Infidel
Hitler hijacked these things and changed the way the swastic and the term "aryan" are perceived forever.

Ruined them for all time, I agree.

19 posted on 02/25/2008 6:35:57 PM PST by processing please hold ( "It is dangerous to be right when the government is wrong.")
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To: FlingWingFlyer

It is public school - what do these kids expect?


20 posted on 02/25/2008 6:38:28 PM PST by impimp1
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