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WEAR YOUR CONVICTIONS ON YOUR SLEEVE STORIES |
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Erik Thomas & Friends La Mirada, California Hello and thank you to all the members of the anti-flag army and the ACLU! I assume you got my first version of my story, I sent it in the other day, and this morning (march 28, it's friday, the day of the white arm band protest) I went in to the office with my dad and waited to see the principal, who was on the phone with the administration at the time. I wore my white armband in to school and to the office. She finally told me that she hadn't made a decision to as if I could wear the band or not, so come back later. Then I told her I had printed out papers from the ACLU web site and the anti flag website and then she wanted to talk to me. She invited me in her office and asked what I had. I showed her the tinker case and she told me she already read that and asked me what happened (she thought I was going in to her office with out knowing the facts, so she thought it would be intimidating to pop-quiz me). I told her what happened, so she took another approach. Telling me that kids have family members in their family in the war so they might think it is offensive, and I countered with I had uncles in the war and I grew to hate war and to see it as it was, and if someone supported the war that offended me. Then she said, well I wont know if you can wear it until later, so ill call you in then. So I said then I should be able to wear it until you make the decision. She told me no, so I wore it on my wrist. Well in class on my arm, outside of class on my wrist. So at snack, the same security who took my band yesterday (march 27) came up to me and my girlfriend and told us to take our bands off. I had mine on my wrist and told her no, it wasn't on my arm so I could wear it. She said no and told me I gave the principal my word not to wear it. I said your right; I gave my word not to wear it on my arm. She took my band away, and my girlfriend resisted, but soon gave it up also. We were really upset and discussed the matter with fellow friends on how we could make other ideas to protest and how we could make this into a case. I gave the printed out ACLU papers to my girlfriend so she would informed of her rights. Anyway, during third I was reading (our school has a policy where in third period you have to read for 15 minets, and we go in a class room to read before I go to my pe class) and gave an armband to my friend, But told him not to resist if they messed with him (did you think I would go to school with out more armbands in my pocket? I had 7 with me.). I then safety pinned a dollar bill upside down on my jacket. As we were going to pe my friend says, hey a security guard is looking for you, go the other way and ill say your not here. I told him no and went to the guard. They told me the principal called me in so I walked with her to the office. The principal was in a meeting with three other guys, one was the vice principal, the other was unknown, and told me it was ok for us the wear the armbands! Yes! We won! I was glowing with happiness! The vice principal left immediately, but the principal told me as long as the anti flag gun logo wasn't showing, she had no problem with it. Then told me that she was impressed that I did my homework On the subject, and said she didn't think I would know soo much at my age. Im only 16. I put on one of my replacement bands on and on my way out I ran into the security that took my band away, along with my girlfriends (our bands both had the anti flag logo on it). The vice principal was right there also. I said, hey can I have those back now. She didn't want to and tried to argue with the vice princ. But he said no it's ok give it back. So she personally gave it back and I put it on right in front of her, walked around the office proudly wearing this piece of cloth that means much more than what it appears, and spread the good news. Going down the halls, returning to my class, I saw my friend and drummer Geno, I yelled out, we won geno we won!!!! After third period I went to my girlfriends class and she goes, your ganna get caught, didn't you say don't make a deal about it? I said, well id like to see them try to take it away now that it's LEGAL. She understood that we won and we embraced. It was great. I then went to spread it to everyone else at lunch, and every one of My classmates. Giving out my remaing armbands, telling the good news to my friend mike (who went in to the office with me the day earlier) and we all gave a big fuck you to the guy who said he was offended by it the previous day. This was a huge accomplishment for me because I did it on my own (with help from you guys) but I did it. I stood up to them and I did it!!!!!! Now my whole group of friends sports the armband, and they cant do anything about it. My band is already in the works of writing a song about this, and we are already seeing what other protests we can attend. First of all I want to thank the ACLU, but I want to thank ANTI FLAG. Because they actually live up to their message. They make sure that you know what to expect when you protest, giving you outcomes and rights and inspiration. Yesterday I went on the site and read the article of the three punks in Illinois that won also, that gave me inspiration to win this case. So thank you. On behalf of: me (erik thomas), geno holland, Ryan syfax, Jessica miller, pepper, mike, poolboy Jim, big Joe patrones, Jose riveras, andrew reyax, blerta p, and evry one of our expanding members of the Decline family. Thank you on behalf of all the student, we couldn't do any of this with out your help, music, and organizations. I listen to anti flag nonstop. So to end this with a quote, "they were arrested for the truth, it was the protestors they screwed, but still asked me who I was voting for. cause when you silence the youth, then you silence the truth..." PEACE-LOVE-UNITY ERIK THOMAS O yeah, to answer a question I wore the armband with my friend since the previous Monday, they only had a problem when some guy was "offended" by it, but he only said that because he hates my girlfriend, so decided to attack my beliefs for it. Fuck him, I guess no one can think for them self, and he was or is some sort of punk. I call them fascionable punkers (even though this particular guy is emo). Thank you again |