Watch CBS News

Students Protest ROCORI H.S. Policy Against Vehicular Flag Displays

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- An agreement is set between ROCORI administrators and students over the school's controversial policy that would prevent them from displaying flags in the parking lot.

The policy was revealed to students this week as they returned to class for the new school year, and came after a handful of students displayed Confederate flags on their cars in the school parking lot.

"We wouldn't care if they didn't allow Confederate flags," ROCORI senior Chase Klein said. "That would be fine with us, so long as we can still fly the American flag."

According to the text of the parking permit application, "students are not allowed to display flags or banners from their vehicles while parked in the ROCORI school parking lot."

Rocori High School Flags
(credit: Shane Johnson)

Furthermore, the school says that "any violations of these procedures can and may be given a ticket or towed away at the expense of the owner."

On Wednesday, a number of pickup trucks at the Cold Spring school arrived with American flags prominently displayed.

Rocori High School Flags
(credit: Shane Johnson)

On Wednesday afternoon, school administrators agreed to let students fly only an American flag, with all other flags still prohibited. ROCORI students will be responsible for policing flags in the parking lot, according to the new deal, including the Confederate flag, which administrators say could be offensive and hurtful to some students.

"The kids have been awesome today," ROCORI principal Mark Jenson said. "There is a resolution. They can bring the American flag."

Community organizers have also set up a 2:30 p.m. "Support Our Students And Our Country" rally at ROCORI in support of the students displaying those flags. As of noon, about 30 people had responded to the Facebook event page.

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue
Be the first to know
Get browser notifications for breaking news, live events, and exclusive reporting.