California highschool scholar suspended after MAGA hat stolen in school

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An Orange County, California , highschool scholar mentioned he was suspended after his "Make America Nice Once more" hat was stolen, sparking a political argument with one other scholar.

Laguna Seashore Excessive Faculty scholar Zach Hornstein instructed Fox Information Digital that he and several other mates wore MAGA hats on Sept. 11 to honor Charlie Kirk, the Turning Level USA co-founder who was shot and killed throughout a talking occasion at a Utah school campus the day earlier than.

"His loss of life actually affected us," Hornstein mentioned. "I could not agree with every little thing he says, however I recognize that he encourages college students to suppose critically, contemplate each side, and have interaction in sincere discussions. My mother is an immigrant, and I used to be introduced as much as love America. On Sept. 11, I wished to feel patriotic and present my assist for our nation as a complete."

On the finish of the college day, Hornstein mentioned, a feminine scholar grabbed his hat and threw it within the women’ lavatory trash can. A political argument adopted, throughout which the scholar used profanity when talking about President Donald Trump, in accordance with KTTV-TV, Fox 11 Los Angeles .

STUDENTS SUPPORTING CHARLIE KIRK SAY THEY ‘ARE NOT AFRAID’ AFTER ASSASSINATION, VOW TO DEFEND FREE SPEECH

Zach Hornstein, a Laguna Seashore Excessive Faculty scholar, mentioned he was suspended after a scholar grabbed his MAGA hat that he wore on Sept. 11 to honor Charlie Kirk and led to a political argument between college students. (iStock/Reuters)

Hornstein mentioned the group "bought over it and moved on" however, at a instructor’s path, he filed an incident report and requested a written apology. The college later suspended each college students.

Hornstein known as the suspension "extraordinarily upsetting" as a result of it interfered together with his rigorous AP class schedule.

"To this present day, I don't perceive what I used to be truly suspended for," he instructed Fox Information Digital. "In the course of the argument, I jokingly mentioned, ‘Should you don’t like America, Canada has open borders,’ which was confirmed by quite a few college students, together with the woman who took my hat off."

Hornstein mentioned he and the opposite scholar stay mates, and he believes faculty directors made a mistake.

VIGILS HELD ACROSS US AFTER ASSASSINATION OF CHARLIE KIRK: 'WE MUST HEAL'

Effectively-wishers add to a makeshift memorial at Turning Level USA headquarters in honor of Charlie Kirk, described right here because the late 31-year-old founder and CEO of the group, on Wednesday, Sept. 17, 2025, in Phoenix. (AP/Ross D. Franklin)

"She was suspended as nicely, and I imagine that it was a whole overreaction," he mentioned. "I believe it was a extremely emotional day for everybody on 9/11, and he or she made a mistake for which she later apologized."

"We have been in a position to work by means of it in a wholesome means, and I want the adults concerned had modeled that very same method as a substitute of making extra division," he added.

His mom, Janet Semenova, instructed Fox Information Digital her son is an honor roll scholar and had by no means been disciplined earlier than.

She believes her son was focused due to his political beliefs.

"I believe it’s a double commonplace," she instructed Fox11. "I believe children who've sure political views are held to a special commonplace than children who produce other political views."

COMPLETE COVERAGE OF CHARLIE KIRK

Attendees choose up posters of Turning Level USA founder Charlie Kirk throughout a vigil at Desert Monetary Area on the campus of Arizona State College (ASU) in Tempe, Arizona, on Monday, Sept. 15, 2025. (Rebecca Noble/Bloomberg through Getty Photographs)

The Laguna Seashore Unified Faculty District mentioned it doesn't self-discipline college students for expressing political beliefs and issued the next assertion:

"We're legally required to maintain scholar self-discipline issues confidential to guard the privateness and well-being of all college students. Defending free expression is key to our democracy, and colleges play a important function in serving to younger folks navigate differing viewpoints with respect. Our accountability as educators is to assist college students in partaking by means of constructive dialogue and wholesome debate that's respectful, empathetic, and rooted in civil discourse. Highschool is a formative time, and we're dedicated to serving to college students develop into considerate residents who perceive each their rights and obligations in a various neighborhood," a spokesperson for the district instructed Fox Information Digital.

"When disputes come up on campus, colleges should consider the conduct concerned. California legislation defines the grounds for suspension, and we're reviewing the info on this scenario by means of that course of to make sure it's dealt with pretty and persistently," the assertion continued.

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The district’s dress code doesn't limit college students from sporting political attire, and Hornstein mentioned college students are allowed to put on clothes with political messages so long as it's applicable.

Semenova mentioned the household plans to attraction the suspension earlier than the college board.

"We deeply love this faculty and its academics, which makes our disappointment within the administration’s dealing with of this delicate scenario much more pronounced," she instructed Fox News Digital . "What we actually need is an acknowledgment from the college that they might have completed higher and used this as a possibility for studying and progress, as a substitute of a second that created additional division. It's tough to be a youngster, and I imagine that it's our ethical accountability to assist them turn out to be extra empathetic and tolerant adults. On this, maybe we are able to all study a lesson from the late Charlie Kirk."