North Carolina HS Student Denied His Deploma After Refusing To Take Of Mexican Flag Over His Graduation Gown

A TikTok video of a North Carolina graduating senior has gone viral after he was denied his diploma for wearing a Mexican flag over his graduation gown.

Adolfo Hurtado was filming his cousin, Ever Lopez, during the ceremony, watching him walk down the stage at Asheboro High School wearing a Mexican flag draped over his gown, when he appeared to get stopped by a faculty member.

Lopez was seen initially taking off the flag but kept it on after audience members encouraged him to do so, Hurtado said in the video. The ceremony was also live-streamed on Asheboro City School's Facebook account.

"Sadly, he did not get the diploma. The teacher wants him to apologize — obviously, he's not going to do that," Hurtado said in a separate video afterward.

School's response:

First and foremost, we strongly support our students’ expressions of their heritage in the appropriate time and place. Our graduation dress code is clearly shared with students ahead of time, and the wearing of a flag of any kind is a violation of the dress code. In the past two years we have allowed students to decorate their mortar boards as a nod to their individuality and creativity. We are very clear with students that this was the ONLY acceptable deviation from the standard cap and gown regalia. Unfortunately, we will now be reevaluating that decision for future senior classes in light of the situation that occurred last night.

We continue working to resolve this issue with the student and his family so that he will receive his diploma from Asheboro High School. He has worked very hard and we commend him on this great achievement. We are confident in his abilities and we know he has a bright future ahead of him.

The accusations being made about our school and district are disheartening. We work with each student daily to ensure they receive rigorous instruction, equitable opportunity, and compassionate care in a safe and inviting learning environment. Across our school and district, we are passionate about seeing all students succeed.