A student at Torrey Pines High School in San Diego was suspended in February after posting flyers that read, “I love ICE,” and were signed with the phrase “Real Americans.”
The incident followed hundreds of students who walked out of school to protest Immigration and Customs Enforcement operations. The school district stated it does not discipline students for political viewpoints but warned that participation in such walkouts would result in being marked truant.
Social media backlash over the student’s suspension prompted Principal Rob Coppo to resign on Thursday. In his resignation statement, Coppo said it was time for him “to enter a new role in education” and that he had been “forever shaped by my time leading this incredible school.” He added that the search for his successor would soon begin.
The San Dieguito Union High School District released a statement clarifying that the student’s suspension did not stem from political views. The district emphasized its commitment to promoting “all lawful exercise of free speech and students’ rights to express their viewpoints while also maintaining school campuses that are safe, orderly, and respectful learning environments.”
Coppo did not reference the ICE controversy in his resignation announcement.
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