‘Political’ Coexist Flag Removed From Sarasota Classroom: District

SARASOTA, FL — A teacher at Booker High School was asked to remove a “coexist” flag from his classroom because it violated school policy regarding political activity on school grounds, Kelsey Whealy, a Sarasota County Schools spokesperson, told Patch.

James Baldwin, an Exceptional Student Education instructor, was told to remove the flag from his classroom Tuesday.

"I am so disheartened by the direction of our district and state. It's not about me, it's about my students. The ones who felt heard, loved, and accepted and now come into a class with a big empty space," he posted to social media, according to the Sarasota Herald-Tribune.

In Baldwin’s post, he said that several other teachers at Booker High were also asked to remove items deemed “political.”

The “coexist” image, published in all capital letters, was created by Polish graphic designer Piotr Młodożeniec for a contest, according to the Auschwitz Jewish Center.

In the interfaith image, the "C" is replaced by an oversized Muslim Crescent, the "X" is replaced by an oversized Star of David and the "T" is replaced by an oversized Latin Cross, the center said.

In Baldwin's flag, the letters were also filled in with rainbow colors, according to reports.

Whealy said his flag was considered to be in violation of Sarasota County School Board Policy 2.51 regarding political activity on school board grounds.

According to this policy, political posters and literature shouldn’t be displayed or distributed in schools or on school property, and “employees shall refrain from participation in partisan politics on school property during the hours school is in session.”

“It is the expectation of all district administrators, school-based administrators, teachers, staff members and students to adhere to School Board policies and work together to maintain a safe and effective working (and) learning environment for all,” Whealy wrote in an email.

When asked what the district considered to be political about the “coexist” flag, which represents several major religions, she told Patch, “We do not have any additional information or insights available at this time, only what has already been provided.”