Stolen Confederate Flag at Plainfield South Leads to First Amendment Debate

Originally published March 11, 2016.

A Confederate flag stolen from a student’s car led to a group of students protesting Plainfield South’s lack of response in the theft and First Amendment rights.

Students reportedly came to school Friday with cars flying U.S. flags in response to the school’s alleged inaction regarding the theft.

Plainfield South Principal Bob Yanello said in an email to parents that on Thursday school officials were alerted that a few students might come to school Friday morning in a parade of trucks with Confederate or other flags that might be offensive and possibly cause a disruption.

“As a result, we took steps to minimize possible disruption to normal school operations,” Yanello said in the email. “This morning, four trucks (showed) up with the American flag, a Marine flag and a Cubs flag. We had no issues, and do not believe we will have any issues. However, I fully understand how news travels, the story changes, and that there are misunderstandings about the matter.”

Joliet Police Chief Brian Benton told The Herald-News he heard the parents of the student whose flag was stolen had asked the school what they were doing about it. Benton also said two officers would be near the school after word of a possible protest emerged.

Phone messages left for Benton were not immediately returned Friday.

The father of the student, George Jadwin, told the paper his son had been displaying the flag throughout the week to show pride in his heritage.

The student, Payton Jadwin, then began receiving Twitter threats from a person who admitted to stealing the flag and threatened to burn the student’s truck, according to the report, which led to a “Twitter war” between the students.

Plainfield South Dean of Students Bryan Radavich reportedly told the Plainfield South student to delete any tweets before the incident was reported to the police and that he would be suspended if the tweets continued.

Plainfield School District 202 Director of Community Relations Tom Hernandez said a student had a Confederate flag on his car Tuesday and was asked to remove it, which the student did.

On Wednesday, a student wore a T-shirt with a Confederate flag on it and was asked to change it, which the student did.

“As a result, a debate about First Amendment rights began on social media,” Hernandez said in a statement. “We respect students’ First Amendment rights. However, the Courts have long held that students lose some of those rights, and schools can limit and control student speech if/when it causes a disruption to the educational process.”

School officials will continue to monitor the situation to minimize any disruption.