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Can a Pentacle be mistaken as a gang symbol?

2000-MAR-10; Indiana:

School officials in Hammond, IN, ordered a Wiccan student, Irma Patton, to cover up the two pentagrams that she wore to school. One is a ring; the other a button. School officials said that pentagrams could be interpreted as a gang symbol worn by members of Chicago's Latin Kings gang. Irma's mother Wanda is also a Wiccan. She said: "They're violating our rights for what we are...Everyone has the right to choose their own religion. I don't knock anyone else's religion.'' Tom Knarr, assistant superintendent for the Hammond school district, said any symbol that might be affiliated with gang activity is not allowed on school property.

Wanda Patton said the Christian cross can be linked to gang members, much like the pentagram, and that police badges are five-pointed stars. "Are we going to get them to quit wearing them?'' she asked. 1 Wanda called on AREN and WARD (two Wiccan anti-defamation groups) for support. The school reversed their decision and now allow students who follow minority religions to wear their faith symbols freely. Steve Foster, President of AREN said: "A Witch's pentacle is http://www.religioustolerance.org/wic_pent.htm clearly an expression of her or his Wiccan faith, just as a cross is an expression of Christian faith. These and other religious symbols are constitutionally protected religious speech. The fact that the School and School Board recognized and reacted positively to this so quickly speaks well for the Educational System in Hammond. "

[Author's note: We suspect that all of the students in Hammond schools benefited from this event. They were taught that people can negotiate their way out of conflicts, that the U.S. Constitution means what it says, that individual human rights are recognized by the Hammond school board, and that students' religious beliefs are respected.]