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https://www.yahoo.com/news/north-carolina-student-wore-mexican-234743500.html

When Ever Lopez decided to wear a Mexican flag to his high school graduation ceremony, he hoped to support his culture. Lopez didn't anticipate anyone would react strongly against it, but because of the flag, Lopez was denied his diploma.
At the Asheboro High School graduation ceremony on Thursday night, Lopez said he carried the flag in and draped it over his shoulders while he was seated. Lopez said he was seated near teachers, and no one mentioned the flag until he reached the stage.
I just gotta represent, Lopez explains, I did it for my family. They came over here to give me a better future.
As the first to graduate in his immediate family, the ceremony held a special significance for Lopez.
When his name was called, he stepped up on stage, ready to receive his diploma. The principal wouldnt hand it over, though, and spoke with him quietly as a line of students waited behind him. After a few seconds, he walked off the stage without his diploma.

I myself was very upset, and I had to contain my emotions because we're in a public area. We had a lot of people with eyes on us, said Lopezs cousin, Adolfo Hurtado.
Lopez said the administration told him he was being a distraction, but a statement from Asheboro City Schools says he was out of dress code.

The heart of the issue is the fact that the student did not follow the established dress code for the event and detracted from the importance and the solemnity of the ceremony, according to a statement from Asheboro City Schools. Our dress code is in place to ensure the dignity of the event is upheld and is fair to all students. Graduation is a milestone event and it is grossly unfair for one individual to diminish this event by violating the dress code.
The schools statement also said the denial of Lopezs diploma wasnt about the Mexican flag and that other students had flags on their graduation caps and werent punished. Photos and accounts from the ceremony show other students with stoles showing the Mexican flag, and those students received their diplomas.
An email Principal Penny Crooks sent to students prior to the ceremony explained the dress code, saying male students should wear a dress shirt and dress pants and female students should wear a dress, skirt or dress pants and that no flip flops or tennis shoes are allowed. The email also says clothing should meet the school district's dress code policy. The email and school dress code make no mention of flags being prohibited attire and do not say students aren't allowed to wear anything over their gowns.
After the ceremony, Lopez and his parents were called into Crooks office to speak about the situation.
Crooks said that he could receive his diploma if he apologized for the situation, Lopez said.
"I ain't apologizing for nothing," Lopez told The Courier-Tribune following the encounter. "It's you who should be apologizing. You're the one doing wrong."
His mother, Margarita Lopez, cried: For me that's not fair. That's something for racists.


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Mind over matter. I don't mind. You don't matter.