Exactly right. The PC SHS administration went too far by including David Mine. This is very serious stuff.

I would think even the other kids would have cause for action. From everything I've heard they've certainly been obnoxious, but there is also almost unanimous agreement that they are almost certainly not associated with any sort of organized white supremacy organization. And there is quite a bit of difference between those two positions. However, the SHS administration has decided to convict these kids as "white supremacists," and as the attorney notes that information is now indelible and will be linked to these young men for the rest of their lives.

Well said SHS parent! The pressure needs to be placed on admin now to clear records and give apologies.

Well said SHS parent and Mr. Rummonds. Lets get the focus back where it started and that is guilty or not none of these boys were given due process. They were all assumed guilty and not even given a chance to prove innocence. I thought I lived in a country that we are all innocent until proven guilty. I guess Soquel High is its own country with its own laws. As for David Mine, he has already been named and labeled on the internet. This is something that will now follow him for the rest of his life. All someone will need to do is put his name into a search and this incorrect information will come up.

Not to mention going and applying for grad schools after cabrillo. It will show up on his high school record. And yes when he applies for jobs and the prospective employee checks up and googles him, he already has tha label. Never at any time has my family ever condoned any apect of any white supremesist based group. Our parents have raised us to respect all people no matter what. The fight for David and the other innocent kids is going to be clearing their names. This will not just go away as I am sure the school thinks. This is not just an "ooops just kidding, my bad" situation. This is serious for the kids involved and it should be treated as such. Thank you to those in the community who support my brother and the fight for his name cleared.

The "rush to judgment" by the Soquel H.S. administration regarding the students wearing white t-shirts is a terrible educational example to all its students, as well as a disservice to the specific students who were labeled and suspended apparently without due process. Kudos to David Mine for speaking out and seeking redress. Regardless of David's ethnicity, the fact that the school administration didn't investigate more thoroughly before taking action is a prime example of "political correctness" going awry.

Besides exonerating the falsely accused students, Soquel HS administrators, as well as educators throughout the area, can take this opportunity as a "teachable moment." Stereotyping or profiling of ANY kind has its limitations, and its dangers. Also, ethnic pride is not the same thing as espousing ethnic supremacy. Let's celebrate everyone's ethnic heritage as we promote real integration.

I also believe that kids need to take responsibility for their actions. I am NOT talking about David Mine here. But, there obviously WERE students who were KNOWN to be involved with this type of racist behavior. There are photos to prove it. There has been ongoing graffiti and intimidation around school and at outside parties. Many students can identify them. So, some of you say they aren't affiliated with actual 'white supremacist groups'. Or that they mostly just "joking around". PEOPLE--you do NOT joke around with this kind of stuff. Hitler and what he did is NOT a joke. So, students need to really think seriously about what they say and do. They're SENIORS in h.s. for goodness sake! Not some little children who didn't know right from wrong. If they chose to take part in this White Power "joking", as they call it, then they need to pay the consequences of their actions. This didn't just start as an innocent senior panorama picture when some kids chose to wear white shirts. It's been an ongoing issue and it finally came to head.

Parents, stop inabling your kids. You should be glad that the administration is taking action and trying to show kids that this type of behavior is NOT acceptable. If you don't want your kids to miss out on actitivites, speak to them about their stupid actions before it gets to that point! Sheesh. Parents want a safe atmosphere at their kids' school. So, PLEASE don't complain when that's exactly what the administration is trying to achieve!

There has to be a balance between justice for the suspended kids and justice for the rest of the student body. It seems the administration didn't hand out punishments exactly the way they should have (see David Mine), but can you really blame them for taking a stand when the problem was clearly getting out of control? I think everyone here makes really valid points.

You're right, Jacob. It sounds like some things could have been handled differently. There's no doubt about it. However, I still believe that this isn't just about "white t-shirts". It's been a toxic situation that seems to have been festering for awhile. Perhaps the administration should have acted even sooner and nipped it in the bud before innocent kids got involved. Either way, a stand needed to be taken. And, I sincerely hope that these students who took part in this "hurtful joking" have realized how it can come back and bite 'em in the behind.

David Mine isn't the only one for whom there is "zero evidence" of belonging to a "White supremacy" group. The same is true for each of the students who was suspended. The wearing of white clothing is not a link to a white supremacy group.

Likewise, a call of "Heil Hitler" can be a joke, though one that wouldn't be funny to a Jew.

Nothing I've heard about the suspended students makes me think that they have membership in a "White supremacy" group. Principal Lawrence-Emanuel's suggestion that the "World Peace" name of a construction project could be a code-word for "White Pride" is likewise without foundation. Not to mention paranoid. There's a very good chance that "World Peace" really means "World Peace," don't you think?

All of these kids were railroaded, the others no less than David Mine, who said on the video that he's sure that none of his friends is a member of any "White supremacy" group.

This school system deserves to get sued and have to pay each of the suspended students a considerable sum in damages. Their only real offense seems to have been wearing white clothing—though why that is offensive, I'm not sure. White clothing is cool because it reflects the sunlight, and white people are not as heat-tolerant as most persons with darker skin are. Maybe they were just trying to stay cool.

I think the problem that everyone is missing is that these students were suspended for wearing white shirts. Not for being racist or for bullying. I think everyone can agree that bullying should not be tolerated. If bullying was taking place then suspend for bullying. Again joking about Hitler is completely inappropriate and offensive however I am pretty sure it is not illegal. If it is then the students should be suspended for "making inappropriate comments". We are treading on thin ice people we have Constitutional Rights for a reason, be careful when giving them away.

David Sims, thanks for voicing your opinion, but everyone needs to be sensitive in a public forum. Suggesting that only Jews would be offended by "Heil Hitler" chants is off base and entirely offensive in itself.

@ParentOfSHSAlum. I'm in West Virginia. I was directed to this controversy by a friend of mine who lives in Montana. I'm not well-familiar with this incident as yet and am still learning about it.

First, the punishment of the "White Tee-Shirt" students looks like a manifestation of anti-white racism on the part of the local school authorities. It would still be anti-white racism if these students were part of a White Pride youth group. Why? Because it is not uncommon for California schools to tolerate youth chapters of La Raza, which means "The Race" and refers explicitly to the mestizo-chicano race which comprises about 80% of the "Hispanics" in the United States.

It is unfair to impose restrictions on the freedoms of speech and association of whites that are not equally imposed on those of all other races. So, even if the "White Tee-Shirt" students were part of a White Pride group, it would, nonetheless, be "racist" of the school administration to punish them if they do not equally punish non-white students for belonging to, or endorsing the aims of, non-white race-based groups.

Having said that, it seems most likely to me that the "White Tee-Shirt" students are not a part of a White Pride youth group. They've said so. Their Asian-American friend has said so. That ought to be good enough for anybody, including the school principal and the superintendent.

What I think we're seeing now is a reluctance of those in authority to admit to making a mistake.

"What I think we're seeing now is a reluctance of those in authority to admit to making a mistake." And that reluctance is why litigation is necessary. If one race is being singled out for special restrictions on their First Amendment freedom, then the law is being broken; the constitution is being violated. And that's what is happening if La Raza and racially exclusive black student associations are OK, but a White Pride group is not-OK.

That's also what is happening if white students are being suspended or otherwise punished by school authorities on the mere suspicion that they are engaging in White Pride activities, while students of other races may freely engage in displays of pride for their own race. The Asian student, David Mine, has said that he might wear an Asian Heritage shirt during the repeat of the class photo session. Why do Asians get to do what is forbidden for whites to do? All together now... "THAT'S RACIST!"

If the school officials in Santa Cruz County won't voluntarily admit their mistake and make appropriate apologies and reparations, then the students whose rights have been violated should take them to court, so that a judge can explain to those school officials the nature and the seriousness of their error. And, just to help them remember, the court can require them to pay compensatory and punitive damages to those students.

David, you seem to be ignoring the fact that other students reported feeling intimidated and harassed by some of the suspended students. David Mine appears to be the exception. Is that not punishable? Aside from that, do you think it's okay to run around school yelling "Heil Hitler"? Or how about defacing school property with swastikas? Is that okay? There is a big difference between ethnic pride groups and intimidating, harassing, threatening racial groups. I dont hang out on the Soquel High School campus, so I can't say what was going on exactly. However, this situation is clearly sparked by much more than white t-shirts.

The excuses you are making for kids throwing around Nazi terms like it's nothing are disturbing. Furthermore, your suggestion that only Jews might be offended by "Heil Hitler" chants shows complete historical and social ignorance and entitlement.

ParentOfSHSAlum, I already had that much. I already knew that swastikas were drawn on desks and other school property. And when you find those people, suspend them for petty vandalism. And, while you're about it, suspend also anyone you catch drawing a Christian cross or a Magen David, the Jewish symbol found of the Israeli flag, on a school desk or on other school property. You must not, because it would be illegal, single out the symbols of any particular race or religion for special restriction, special enforcement, or special punishment.

But, as I understand things so far, you don't really know whether the suspended students did any of the vandalism. Maybe they did it. Maybe someone else did it, instead. Although you might not be aware of it, there is a certain amount of hoaxing where racial graffiti is concerned. For example, consider this:

http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x6hvpo_jewish-student-put-swastika-herself_news

Sometimes, Jews draw swastikas in order to hoax an antisemitic message and the existence of someone who "hates" them. When they get away with these frauds, they receive sympathy, political or social leverage, and sometimes money, none of it deserved.

From what I can tell, the ONLY infraction of which the suspended students are known to be guilty is wearing a bandana in violation of the school dress code. Was their punishment any harsher than the punishments given to students of other races for dress code violations?

David, there IS a white power gang in Santa Cruz County. It is a very real thing. Your suggestion that Jews defaced the school with swastikas to get attention and sympathy is disgusting.

I am getting so tired of politically correct people trying to find boogey men in anything a white person does. So what if these guys did belong to a white supremacy group!!! How many of the blacks in the school belong to an exclusive black group (naacp comes to mind)? Why is it so wrong for whites to be proud of their ancestors; but, it is not wrong for blacks to be proud of theirs? What is wrong with whites who APOLOGIZE for being white? Why can a black kid wear a malcolm x or any other racially leaning shirt; but, a white kid cannot wear a PLAIN WHITE T-SHIRT?? When are whites and other nationalities going to be proud of their lineage again and tell everyone else to deal with it? Stop the political correctness crap and become proud again!!!

Thanks for all your comments. We are now closing this comment thread.