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Fireworks over flag bring Senate to halt
By April M. Washington, Rocky Mountain News
April 6, 2006

Angry accusations of anti-Americanism shut down the state Senate briefly Wednesday after a Republican lawmaker introduced a measure to protect displays of the U.S. flag in schools.

The amendment, by Senate Minority Leader Andy McElhany, R- Colorado Springs, passed the Senate 28-3.

Under it, the state would deny grants to any schools that ban the respectful display of the flag, clothing that depicts the flag or clothing that includes the colors of the flag.

The measure comes in response to recent immigration rallies at area middle and high schools.

At least two principals have banned Mexican and U.S. flags and flag-related clothing, saying they can incite violence.

"We need to send a message," said Sen. Tom Wiens, R-Castle Rock. "We have American principals of American schools seeing to it that American students don't display the American flag.

"We can no longer stand for devaluing the greatness of this country, devaluing what it means to be a citizen of this country and devaluing the symbols of this country."

Debate at one point was shut down after Senate Majority Leader Ken Gordon, D-Denver, objected to remarks from Sen. Jim Dyer, R-Centennial, accusing liberals of being soft on patriotism.

Sen. Ron Tupa, D-Boulder - one of three Democrats to vote against the amendment - defended a decision by the principal of Longmont's Skyline High School to ban the display of the U.S. and Mexican flags after the flags were waved in the faces of students.

He said the principal was worried about the safety of students.

"This has nothing to do with patriotism. It has nothing to do with the American flag," Tupa said.

"This is about keeping the schools safe in a heated situation."

Dyer called Tupa's remarks the "plangent cry of the left" and said that liberals were trying to equate the flag with something dangerous.

Sens. Gordon and Bob Bacon, of Fort Collins, took that as an attack against liberals' patriotism.

"There are no members of my caucus that are any less patriotic than on your side of the aisle," Gordon said angrily.

He had helped rewrite the amendment and later voted for it.

"Thank you for that display of petulance, Senator Gordon," Dyer responded.

The debate became so heated that Gordon dismissed the Senate.

After lunch, lawmakers returned with cooler heads.

Ten Democrats joined Republicans in supporting the amendment before giving final approval to the $4.77 billion school-finance bill.



washingtona@RockyMountainNews.com or 303-892-5086