A student from a Junior High School in Michigan accused a teacher of assaulting her when she had worn a “Women For Trump” pin to school on Dec. 5, according to multiple reports.
The student in question, 16-year-old Sadie Earegood, attends Mason High School in Mason City in Michigan, according to Fox 6 Now, and the incident happened when she wore her pin to school. Daily Caller reported that on that day, the teacher, Paul Kato approached her and told her that he didn’t like the pin that she was wearing.
“I was just really shocked that a teacher especially would do that. He’s talking about the ‘Women for Trump’ pin, and I said, ‘that’s fine you don’t have to like it, we have our opinions,'” Earegood recalled, according to Daily Caller.
However, what followed was a struggle between the teacher and Earegood.
“He grabbed it, and I pulled, and I tried to push his hand away, and he grabbed her shoulder, just kind of put his hand there, and then he started pulling more and more, and I just started backing up,” Earegood said, according to Fox 6 Now.
The news outlet reported that after Kato got the pin off of Earegood’s shirt, he pinned it on his own shirt, upside down, and told Earegood that the pin “belonged that way.”
Following the incident, the Earegoods filed a report on the teacher’s actions, saying that she had made a criminal assault and larceny report against him, the Daily Caller reported. According to Don Hanson, the Mason Police Chief, the department would be looking into the case, The Hill reported.
“The Mason Police Department has been in contact with a parent(s) of the student. Due to a student being involved and the matter being open, no additional details will be released at this time,” Hanson stated according to The Hill.
“[Kato] had no right to put his hands on my child over a pin or anything else. The first amendment gives everyone the right to express their freedom of speech. No one should get that upset about someone wearing a political pin,” Capi Earegood, Sadie Earegood’s mother, said, according to the Daily Caller.
The Mason School District had also stated that they would take the appropriate actions once they have a full understanding of the situation, according to Fox 6 Now.
“Mason Public Schools takes all concerns seriously,” said Ronald Drzewicki, the Mason School District Superintendent, in the press release, according to Lansing State Journal. “We are committed to providing a positive learning environment for our students.”
According to Fox 6 Now, Sadie Earegood said that this incident would not deter her from wearing her political-related items.
“I just want him to know that it’s not okay to do that. I want this to be a learning experience for other teachers, and I’m not going to stop wearing my political stuff,” Sadie Earegood said.
