By: Las Vegas Now Staff
A local high school student was kicked out of class for not saying or standing during the pledge of allegiance. The incident has sparked a heated debate but the student himself says he'll continue to not participate.
That student, 16-year-old Devon Smith, says he was told to leave the classroom yesterday morning after refusing to say or stand for the pledge. Though he's been questioned as to why he did it, he says under the constitution, he has every right to not participate.
The sophomore says he hasn't been standing for the pledge since eighth grade because of religious beliefs. The teen says he doesn't believe in God and has every right not to recite the pledge.
“One nation under God. I don't believe in God but I'm not a devil worshiper, just my thought on life,” he said.
The ACLU agrees with Smith and says as long as he was not being disruptive, he should not have been forced to leave the class.
However, the Clark County School District says they can't comment on whether Smith was being disrespectful or disruptive during the pledge. Smith says he wasn't acting out.
“I just think he did the right thing. He stood for what he believes. Whether I agree with it, whether the teacher agrees with it, it must have been a really hard thing to do,” said Smith's mother Donna Pearson.
Smith's parents both say this was their sons second week at Spring Valley High, after spending a little more than a month at an alternative school.
Smith says he was caught writing on a bathroom wall, but he and his parents say it was first offense and he is not a trouble maker.
The district will not say if Smith was being disruptive inside the classroom. Both his parents say they support their son, but even they disagree on their son's choice to not say the pledge.
The ACLU says they get several complaints each year over this very issue.
Email your comments to Reporter Melissa Duran
