The rules of the New York State board of education say students will only be searched if suspected of violating “the law or school rules and regulations.” At Franklin D. Roosevelt High in Brooklyn, wearing a Palestinian flag seems to fit that code.

Yusra Awawdeh, a 16-year-old American-born Palestinian, went to school wearing a pin of the Palestinian flag. In a further affront to American freedoms, a traditional scarf was draped over her shoulders. Traitor. A school security guard removed Yusra from class, took her to the dean’s office and forced her to empty her pockets and remove her shoes and socks. He then frisked her and checked her mid-riff, possibly looking for one of those bomb-belts like the Palestinians on CNN wear.

Though sent back to class without disciplinary measures, Yusra was told the only flag she was allowed to wear was the American one. She was also told to remove a “Free Palestine” sticker from her binder. :

» Scott Saxon