News/Commentary

12-yr-old handles ‘Don’t Tread On Me’ notoriety like a boss!

August 31, 2023 | | Print Article

“Today was a good day,” 12-year-old Jaiden Rodriguez, who scored a major First Amendment victory when his Colorado school was forced to allow him to keep his Gadsden flag patch on his backpack, told his many supporters on X.

“Well, kind of.”

As BizPac Review reported, Jaiden found himself in the spotlight after an official at The Vanguard School in Colorado Springs kicked him out of class and told him he must remove the iconic “Don’t Tread On Me” patch from his bag because the historic symbol was associated with “slavery and the slave trade” and was a disruption.

Connor Boyack, author of “The Tuttle Twins” series and a reported inspiration to Jaiden, posted the young man’s story on X, and the backlash sparked an emergency meeting by the school’s Board of Directors on Tuesday.

“Yesterday the student returned with the patch still visible on his backpack. Following the District’s direction, Vanguard administrators pulled the student aside so that they could speak with his parents and the District,” the board wrote in a statement. “Upon learning of these events today, The Vanguard School Board of Directors called an emergency meeting.”

“From Vanguard’s founding we have proudly supported our Constitution, the Bill of Rights, and the ordered liberty that all Americans have enjoyed for almost 250 years,” the board continued. “The Vanguard School recognizes the historical significance of the Gadsden flag and its place in history. This incident is an occasion for us to reaffirm our deep commitment to a classical education in support of these American principles.”

“At this time, the Vanguard School Board and the District have informed the student’s family that he may attend school with the Gadsden flag patch visible on his backpack,” it concluded.

On Wednesday, Boyack posted another update to X — a video message from Jaiden.

“When I got to school, the kids were really hyped up because they saw me on Twitter,” he said. “Kids are putting ‘don’t tread on me’ on their locker — at least my new-made friends, ’cause, being on Twitter, now they like me all of sudden.”

His teachers… not so much.

“The teachers on the other hand, I got some dirty looks, that’s for sure,” he said. “They are definitely not happy with me.”

“But other than that,” Jaiden shared, “it was pretty good.”

And like any well-seasoned sensation in today’s viral world, Jaiden dropped some pretty impressive names.

“I was on the Charlie Kirk show,” he said. “and Ben Shapiro had me.”

“It was a really good day, in my opinion,” Jaiden said.

Support for the articulate young rebel continues to swell.

“HERO,” wrote the former assistant secretary of the Treasury, Monica Crowley.

“Amazing,” stated combat veteran and current podcaster Sean Parnell. “Way to hold your ground kiddo!”

“Way to go, little dude,” stated one X user. “If more adults had your courage, this country would be in a much better place right now.”

Melissa Fine
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