A student at Laguna Beach High School, Zach Hornstein, was suspended after wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, which led to an argument on campus. The incident occurred on September 11, the day after Charlie Kirk, a conservative activist, was reportedly shot and killed. Hornstein stated that he wore the hat to honor Kirk.
According to Hornstein, a female student pulled his hat off and threw it in a trash can, using profanity to describe President Donald Trump. Hornstein claimed he responded with a joke, saying, “If you don’t like it here, Canada’s open borders, feel free to go.” However, a teacher reported that Hornstein made a different comment, allegedly telling a group of girls to “go back to where they came from,” which Hornstein denies.
Hornstein’s mother, Janet Semenova, believes the school is targeting her son for his political beliefs. She expressed disappointment in the school’s handling of the situation, stating, “I think it’s a double standard. I think kids who have certain political beliefs are held to a different standard than kids who have other political beliefs.” She also mentioned that neither student should have been suspended and criticized the school for creating an environment of hostility rather than dialogue.
The Laguna Beach Unified School District released a statement saying it is reviewing the incident to ensure it is handled fairly and consistently, as required by California law. The family met with the school principal, who upheld the suspension, and they are considering escalating the issue to the school board.
Fox LA and Yahoo News both reported on the incident, highlighting the ongoing debate over political expression in schools.
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