Say “Illegal Alien,” Get Suspended. What’s Wrong in North Carolina?

A high school student is branded a racist and loses his First Amendment rights for asking a clarifying question about a vocabulary word

During English class in a Davidson County high school, a teacher gave vocabulary words as part of an assignment. One of the words was “alien.” A student responded with a clarifying question, “like space aliens or illegal aliens?” The assistant principal said that he considered the question offensive and disrespectful to the student’s Hispanic classmate. However, the student never directed his comments to any individual in the class and defended himself stating that the term “illegal alien” is a term he hears on the news and that people from any country could be an illegal alien and not just those who are Hispanic.

This 10th grader, whose parents wish to keep his identity anonymous, is a leader in his school, a great student, and an accomplished athlete—yet he was suspended from school for 3 days for his supposed “racism.”

In a single day, “woke” teachers and administrators decided to destroy him simply for asking the wrong question.

Restoration News reviewed the student suspension document which lists the following reason for suspension: “Using/making racially motivated comment which disrupts class.” The parents were told they could not appeal the decision and he must attend an alternative school.

The Chair and Vice-Chair of the Davidson County School Board did not reply to our request for comment.

(FIXING EDUCATION: Our Reporting is Protecting Parents’ Rights in North Carolina—With Your Help)

Coming for Your Kids

Restoration News spoke with Leah, the student’s mother, who is fighting to defend her innocent son. She said the Davidson schools’ handbook indicates a suspension under 10 days cannot be appealed. The parents have spoken with the teacher, assistant principal, and principal with no resolution. Leah learned that the incident happened in a morning class, but no action was taken until after lunch. That’s when the assistant principal approached a Hispanic student in the class to ask if he was offended by the student’s question about illegal aliens. That is what fueled the decision to suspend Leah’s son. It seems the administration was looking for a reason to pursue the suspension.

The family is very concerned that the label of “racism” that has been falsely placed on their son could cause lasting damage to his reputation and put him in danger. She feels that the question he asked in class was very reasonable and the term illegal alien is not racist. The family is demanding that the situation be corrected, and the student’s record be cleared.

Davidson County, located 60 miles north of Charlotte, is hardly a liberal bastion. Donald Trump won the county in 2020 with 73 percent of the votes. What happens in classrooms is not necessarily reflective of community views because “woke” teachers and administrators control government schools.

This is the totalitarian Left in action, and it’s happening in public schools across the nation. Parents, don’t think your kids are safe—even in a solidly conservative community. These parents weren’t.

(READ MORE: Illegal Alien Violent Crime Skyrocketed in North Carolina Under Democrats, Including a Known Terrorist)