High School Apologizes for Donald Trump “Wall” Sign After Backlash

Texas high school accused of racism apologized for Donald Trump-themed sign.

September 13, 2016

Not Available Lead — Image via Complex Original
Complex Original

A Dallas high school apologized after holding a pep rally which appropriated Donald Trump's campaign slogan "Make America Great Again" when it was accused of racism for using a border "wall" sign to taunt a football rival. As NBCDFW reported, the school accused of racism is a predominantly white and well-off school, while its rival is diverse and has a 25 percent Hispanic population, according to U.S. News and World Report.

Colleyville Heritage High School, the school facing the backlash, held a "Make Colleyville Great Again" pep rally theme. There, the previously mentioned border "wall" appeared with "Paid for by Trinity," written on it, a reference to opponents Trinity High. The sign refers to Trump's repeated assurances that Mexico will be paying for the wall he plans to erect to stop the flow of illegal immigration.

"On behalf of everyone here, I'm sorry," said Coleyville Principal Dr. Lance Groppel in a statement. "We made a mistake and we have to learn from it going forward." Groppel added, "While I believe that was not the intent, I do believe that it is important to have a full understanding of the impact that comments can have on others." The principal also called Trinity Principal Mike Harris to apologize. Additionally, student leaders at Coleyville wrote an open letter to Trinity apologizing, writing:

Fusionreported Grapevine-Colleyville Independent School District communications director Rick Hadley said while administrators did approve the pep rally theme, they did not approve signs. Hadley told Fusion that would change and that from now on signs had to be administrator approved. However, one of the Colleyville students pictured in the photo with the criticized Trump "wall" tweeted that the sign was "administrator approved" and said it was not intended to offend.