25 students at Millard South High School in Omaha Nebraska were recently suspended for wearing t-shirts to honor a fellow student who was shot and killed.
The students were ordered to stay home from after they showed up to school wearing t-shirts memorializing 18-year-old Julius Robinson, a Millard South High School football player who had been shot to death. Proceeds from the sale of the shirts went to Robinson's family so they could buy a headstone for the teen's grave.
School officials said the words "Julius RIP" on the shirts were disruptive and, after consulting with Omaha police, could also be considered gang-related.
What do you think? Is it free speech, or does the school have the right to regulate what students wear to class?
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filed under: family
Email12 comments so far | Post a comment now >>
that is really sad they were just honoring their friend
- teetont
friggin ridiculous!
- Crystal
I THINK THIS IS TERRIBLE! WHAT WAS SO BAD ABOUT THEIR T-SHIRTS?
- praying4baby#2
If they were doing this out of respect, I see nothing wrong. If there was a graphic or other wording added with the ‘RIP JULIAN’, that would’ve violated school policy, then I could understand.
- JoLynn
The school and the police department in this case are so off base! They are absolutely Wrong in this matter! If these children wanted to do something nice for the family so they could afford to buy a headstone for their son & for their fallen classmate then they should have been able to do that with pride and with respect& dignity!! This is another one of those stories where one or two people have to spoil a Very good thing. The authorities should be ashamed of themselves!!!!!
- Dorothy
I live in Omaha and this happened about a month ago. When it first happened, I thought the school was wrong but after the school explained why-it made sense. The student that was shot was not an innocent person-he was a gang member. Many of the students that were wearing the shirts were either in the gang or involved with the gang. The school was trying to keep the students from being a distraction. The shirts that they showed on the news were homemade-maybe there were some shirts that were sold but that was not the reason that the students were wearing the shirts. There is a serious gang/violence problem among the youth in Omaha. The parents of the students should have stopped them from wearing the shirts to begin with. I think the school was right for not allowing the students to wear shirts that supported a known gang member.
- Mary Anderson
Thank you Mary Anderson for clearing up what the reason really was. It sounds like the ones wearing these shirts were wearing them like they would wear gang colors. My prayers go out to all in this school it sounds like they have a lot to deal with. The school needs more support not people judging everything that they do.
- Jami
Julius was not a gang member and the shirts were not home made they were made by a professional and donated by the family of Julius’ best friend, in hopes that they could raise enough money for a headstone for Julius.The people in this community have blown this whole situation out of proportion and for what he was a kid and he was taken from his family and friends way to soon lets not forget that. The school does not have the right to tell students who are honoring there friend to change the only reason it became a distraction is because the school brought it to everyones attention by suspending them for wearing the shirts. I think if you are going to comment on facts please have them straight!!!
- A Family Member
Folks, everyone is important to someone and is loved by someone(s). The family asserts that the young man was not a gang member. But even if he was, are we saying that his loved ones and friends cannot honor him? And what’s the big deal if the shirts were home made, which the family member asserts was not the case. The point is the kids were trying to do somethng good for the family. It’s not as if the shirts were advocating gang violence. Since when can we not say Rest In Peace to anyone and provide a headstone? The young man was a human being like the rest of us. Sounds like the situation was given a lot of hype by the authorities; a situation which would have run its course and the kids could have remembered their friend with love—not controversy. Sometimes we adults need to get over ourselves and set an example of not over reacting. I just think it is so sad. My heart goes out to the family and school friends of this young man. Lizzy
- Lizzy B
I strongly agree with Lizzy B.
- Millard Girl
i know this is really ridiculous.. im a student at millard south and i was there when this hapened.. i was not a close freind of julius but my sister was.. she attended his funeral and it was a sad day… the shirt thing was unneccasary and stupid the students had every right to wear them and it was not “gang related” because it did not say anything involving the way he died or why it was tragic and our principals were trying to act all high and mighty when they shouldve felt just as upset that they lost one of our really good football players…even though he didnt attend the school anymore… he was always smiling and barely ever got in trouble… i think that its just one of those things that happen that people should just be respectful of… the poeple who wore the shirts were just trying to be that way and remember the fall of a fellow freind… alot of people spoke out about this and noone was really heard..
- brooke
Gang Related?Rediculous.. thats carrying it over board out rages i might say.. thats not right. If i were to die tommarow and the people who cared about me were honoring by wearing a t-shirt or just anything to symbolize i would appriciate it. Because that means they remember me.And i would look out for them from were ever i was. And if this paticular case was my case i would be crying from were ever i was because they suspended 25 of my friends for honoring my death why? because someone else didnt think i was worth it>>I know we all make mistakes but this ..this isnt fair..we have to fight for whats right ,,,now a days everything we do isnt good enough now adays people think they have the right to judge us..when will be the day that we will be fully recognized and appricated for the things we do>> and if i were julious robinson i would b so proud because i am still remembered and i still live in those who think of me. thank you i would be so thankful.
- Lizz rojas
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