Two high school football players in Ohio have been suspended indefinitely for their actions before a recent game.
Brady Williams and Jarad Bentley, players for the Little Miami High School football team in Ohio, were suspended after carrying a Thin Blue Line and a Thin Red Line flag onto the field before a game on Friday, Sept. 11th. The flags were meant as a tribute to fallen police officers and firefighters.
It may seem severe, but both boys were aware beforehand that they were not allowed to bring the flags onto the field. The school was concerned about setting a precedent, yet the two students decided to disregard the directive and proceeded with their plan.
According to Local 12 in Ohio:
“Williams was holding the Thin Blue Line flag as he rushed onto the field Friday. His father is a police officer, and he says he wanted to honor all the cops who lost their lives trying to save others on 9/11.
Jarad Bentley carried the Thin Red Line flag.
“I was all for it,” he said. “Because my dad is a firefighter, and if it had been him killed on 9/11, I would have wanted someone to do it for him.”
Here’s the video:
Superintendent Greg Power commented on the situation:
“We did not want to place ourselves in a circumstance where another family might want a different flag to come out of the tunnel, one that may be [one that] many other families may not agree with from a political perspective,” Power said.
The school district has subsequently released a statement.
“Little Miami Local Schools is saddened to see this story take such a negative turn,” the district said in a statement. “While we understand these students’ desire show their support of our first responders, they did not obtain permission from district officials. Administrators must act when students break the rules.”
