Here's what's POSITIVE about the Gadsden flag school scandal



Conservatives across the country are infuriated by the recent incident at The Vanguard School in Colorado Springs, where Jaiden Rodriguez, a seventh-grade student, was told by the administration that he must remove the Gadsden flag patch on his backpack, as it was associated with slavery and therefore racist.

Obviously, the situation is outrageous, as the Gadsden flag is tied to the Revolutionary War and British tyranny and not slavery in any capacity. It also exemplifies the ever-expanding definition of racism as well as the censorship and virtue-signaling that’s unfortunately come to define the country.

However, Glenn Beck sees the silver lining.

For starters, the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, an organization Glenn has always been at odds with, ruled that “it's not a racist symbol,” and “even the governor of Colorado — a Democrat — said the Gadsden flag is a proud symbol of American Revolution and an iconic warning to Britain or any government not to violate the Liberties of Americans,” he says.

But what Glenn finds most encouraging is how Jaiden Rodriguez has handled this difficult situation.

“I love this kid,” says Glenn. “He knows what he’s talking about.”

“He’s back in school with the flag on his backpack today,” Glenn says, which is largely the result of Jaiden and his mother refusing to be bullied into submission.

Perhaps this situation hints that people have had enough of leftist policies and are finally taking a stand.


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The Gadsden flag is racist?! Teacher gets BRUTAL 'Don't Tread on Me' lesson



The Gadsden flag is known by most Americans as a symbol of colonial unity against British oppression.

However, it’s now considered “racist” by some, and a 12-year-old boy in Colorado Springs is standing up against that notion.

The boy, Jaiden, has a Gadsden flag patch on his backpack. His school apparently stated that he cannot wear the “Don’t Tread on Me” patch because officials have deemed it racist.

One teacher claimed that the flag’s origins were "with slavery."

Jaiden was then pulled from his classroom for refusing to take it off, before his mother came to the school to defend her son and educate school officials on what the flag actually symbolizes, which, of course, is not slavery.

“The only tie between the Gadsden flag and racism is that they happened concurrently,” Pat Gray tells “The News & Why It Matters” host Sara Gonzales and contributor Jaco Booyens.

“There was a Gadsden flag when there was slavery. That’s your deal? I mean, how are you tying that in, it had nothing to do with it,” he adds.

Gonzales is aware of the flag's actual origins as well.

“She clearly used the word origins. So, she’s saying it originated first because of slavery, which is completely inaccurate. It was of course the American Revolution, and I mean Ben Franklin, this was his brainchild,” she explains.

While it’s very clear that the flag is not racist but a symbol of the American Revolution, it seems to still be lost on the Colorado Springs school staff.

This is made obvious in a leaked email exchange between the school director, Jeff Yocum, and Jaiden’s mother.

“As discussed, I am providing you the rationale for determining the Gadsden Flag is considered an unacceptable symbol,” Yocum writes, before adding a link to a Washington Post article.

“It’s tied to the Confederate flag and other white supremacy groups, including Patriot groups,” Yocum continues, adding that it was “tied to hate groups” as well.

The mother wasn’t having it, responding, “Respectfully, everything can be considered racist and tied to white supremacy. It’s sad because when everything becomes racist, then nothing is. When we actually need to cry racism and oppression and it’s actually happening, no one will take it seriously.”

The mother then linked her articles that claim things like water and math are racist.

“To that mom I say fight, and then get your kid the heck out of that indoctrination camp,” Booyens says.


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Colorado school district bans critical race theory after black father delivers rousing speech: 'We are not victims of America'



A Colorado black father delivered a stirring speech denouncing critical race theory during a school board meeting last week, which garnered a standing ovation from other parents. After the rousing monologue, the board members voted to ban critical race theory in the school district.

Several concerned parents gave their testimony about implementing critical race theory in classrooms, but Derrick Wilburn stole the show. Wilburn, who is a descendant of slaves, explained how installing critical theory into classrooms does not combat racism, but fans "the flames of what little embers are left."

"I am a direct descendant of the North American slave trade," Wilburn explained. "Both my parents are black. All four of my grandparents are black, all eight of my great grandparents, and all 16 of my great greats. On my mother's side, my ancestors were enslaved in Alabama. On my father's side, we were enslaved in Texas."

"I'm not oppressed and I'm not a victim," Wilburn, who is the founder and executive director of the Rocky Mountain Black Conservatives, added.

He added that his three children "are not oppressed, either, though they are victims."

"I taught my children they are victims of three things: Their own ignorance, their own laziness, and their own poor decision making. That is all," Wilburn stated.

"We are not victims of America," Wilbur said in the viral video. "We are not victims of some unseen 190-year-old force that kind of floats around in the ether."

"Putting critical theory into our classrooms is taking our nation in the wrong direction," Wilburn declared. "Racism in America would by and large be dead today if it were not for certain people and institutions keeping it on life support. Sadly, very sadly, one of those institutions is the American education system."

"Putting critical race theory in classrooms is not combating racism. It's fanning the flames of what little embers are left," Wilburn concluded. "I encourage you to support this resolution. Let racism die the death it deserves."

Shortly after Wilburn's galvanizing speech, the Colorado Springs School District 49 school board voted to ban critical race theory in classrooms.

This Colorado Springs father denounces critical race theory and says that "racism in America would be dead today if… https://t.co/N61gbKYjSR

— Christopher F. Rufo ⚔️ (@realchrisrufo) 1629415984.0

Board president John Graham, secretary Rick Van Wieren, and director Ivy Liu all voted to ban critical race theory.

The trio of school administrators gave a summary of the ban:

The driving force behind CRT and antiracism is the acceptance of a worldview that encompasses specific notions about history, philosophy, sociology, and public policy. By its own terms, CRT/antiracism excludes individuals who merely advocate for neutral principles of the Constitution, or who deny or question the extent to which white supremacy shapes our institutions.

Public Education, properly designed, includes age-appropriate exposure to events, philosophies, and structures which comprise the American experience. Clearly, this may and should include instruction of the facts and related literature regarding racism and inequality in America. However, such exposure should not purport to deliberately undermine student/family values, religious beliefs, or principles. Further, every student, regardless of status, has a unique life story. Thus, while instructors and administrators may recognize and/or believe in particular doctrines in the areas of faith, civil rights, economics, international affairs, sociology, or politics, it never should be the role of public educators to endorse or proselytize on behalf of a specific perspective in any of these areas. Certainly, CRT/antiracism or related euphemistic surrogates should not be an element of D49's curricula or teacher training.

The board members who voted to prohibit critical race theory told Fox News, "We are grateful for the outpouring of support from our community and others over this issue, but it is only one of many issues school districts face at this point, and having settled it, we would like to move on to the greater task at hand of catching up our students. After two years in a row of disruptive Covid impacts, we want to focus on getting our kids back on track socially, emotionally, mentally, and academically."