The Associated Press
By JESSIE BONNER
BOISE, Idaho -- A student was arrested and security tightened at a high school in Idaho following a week of racial tension that began when a teacher confiscated the Mexican flag of a student celebrating Cinco de Mayo.
Student protests and counterprotests, faculty sanctions, desecration of Mexican and American flags and threats of legal action have rocked Minico High School in Rupert, a town of 5,600 people in southern Idaho.
As a precaution, security was increased Friday when about 40 students planned a protest over school administration treatment of two teachers at the center of the controversy.
During the demonstration, a male student was arrested after being accused of threatening violence on school grounds, Minidoka County sheriff’s Deputy Vic Watson said.
“It was a verbalization that he made that upset other students,” Watson said.
No other arrests or disturbances were reported before classes ended for the weekend, authorities said.
Emotions rose Monday when Clint Straatman, a physical education teacher, threw a student’s Mexican flag in the garbage. Froylan Camelo, 16, had brought the flag to school to celebrate Cinco De Mayo, which commemorates Mexico’s victory over the French army in 1862.
Straatman said he was trying to prevent any animosity between white and Hispanic students, who account for nearly 40 percent of enrollment in the Minidoka County Joint School District.
Contacted by the American Civil Liberties Union, Camelo said he was considering whether to sue the teacher. The next day, Hispanic students protested and drew a counterprotest from some of their non-Hispanic classmates.
Later in the week, Dan Luker, who teaches English as a second language, reportedly damaged an American flag in front of a school administrator. Some said he acted in retaliation to Straatman’s behavior and a show of support for the schools Hispanic students.
“We have asked the whole matter be investigated,” Prosecutor Nicole Cannon told The Associated Press on Friday. “They are somewhat connected.”
Both teachers have been placed on administrative leave, but emotions among students remained high.
School officials would not comment on disciplinary measures, citing a policy barring discussion of personnel matters, adding that the investigation of Straatman was continuing.