Warren Mott student suspended for having Confederate flag attached to his car


A screen grab of Warren Mott High School student Ryan Delicato's truck and Confederate flag attached to the hitch.
Photo courtesy of clickondetroit.com

By Don Gardner, The Macomb Daily POSTED: 05/06/16, 5:40 PM EDT | UPDATED: 1 DAY AGO


A decision by a Warren Mott High School senior to attach a Confederate flag to his truck and park it in the school parking lot three times in the past month has landed him with a suspension.

Ryan Delicato, 17, was suspended Thursday for violating student code of conduct rules that prohibit a student from bringing something to school that if displayed disrupts school or school activities.

According to acting Warren Consolidated Superintendent Sharon Irvine, Delicato was welcome to return to school Friday if he did not display the Confederate flag. Delicato did not return to school and did not record his absence with the high school.

Thursday was the third time in the past couple of weeks Delicato attached the rebel flag to the hitch of his pick-up truck. Irvine said the first time it was brought to school, it was cut down by a fellow student. After the second time he brought the flag to school, which was Wednesday, May 4, he was warned by school administration that it was a violation of policy and he could face suspension. He brought the flag to school a third time Thursday and was asked to leave the school grounds.

Irvine said the presence of the flag, both a symbol of the Confederates States of America during the Civil War and of slavery and racism, resulted in multiple protests from the student body and multiple complaint calls made to the district.

Irvine said arguments and exchanges about the flag were escalating among the students and causing disruptions in the classroom. Irvine said Delicato parked the car next to classroom windows so many students could see it from inside the building. Irvine added the student conflict escalated concerns about possible physical conflict.

According to clickondetroit.com, Delicato said he was displaying the flag as a tribute to his Southern heritage. He said the flag is not racist, but rather a symbol of his family’s history. Irvine said Delicato’s position on the historical significance of the flag was not the issue, but rather the disturbance it caused and the school district’s need to contain the disruption and address concerns.

“The way it was presented, communicated and received definitely agitated students,” Irvine said. “He knew that it had that effect, and he was comfortable with that effect.”

Irvine does not know if Delicato planned on attending school Monday.

She said that according to school records, he is on track and scheduled to graduate in June.

The Macomb Daily has attempted to reach Delicato and his father but has not yet obtained comments.


Warren Mott student suspended for having Confederate flag attached to his car