Caldwell, Idaho – Brown Pride is the latest controversial topic for the Caldwell School District following a student-led protest this week.
“So my hoodie said brown pride in the front with an Aztec mural. Same thing in the back, but in the back, it had less riders, nothing inappropriate; I was covered up, and I was wearing that dress.” Wasn’t breaking the code that I knew,” Caldwell High School senior Brenda Hernandez said.
Hernandez says he wore this sweater when he was kicked out of class for violating the school dress code, adding that his brown pride was associated with the hoodie gang. Since the incident, Hernandez started a Brown Pride petition, which has received over 400 signatures.
On Tuesday, Hernandez led a Brown Pride protest, claiming that Brown Pride is not gang-related, but rather part of his Mexican culture. Since the protest, the student’s TikTok and Instagram posts about what happened at the rally have been going viral.
Poder Idaho executive director Estefania Mondragรณn said, โIt is disturbing and despicable behavior by adults toward students, as we have seen in these TikTok videos. Even against students of color within the Caldwell school system Physical violence also happens.”
The event has sparked a community conversation among the Latinx community in Treasure Valley, including the League of United Latin American Citizens.
“I’m not trying to be racist, but it’s mostly white people who don’t understand the terminology or the culture, and they keep turning it around, calling it gangs and gangs and gangs. It’s not the point,” Sonny Ligas said LULAC state director.
I reached out to the principal of Caldwell School for comment, who directed me to the director of communications for the school district, from whom I have not yet received the back form.
With the help of LULAC, Hernandez is considering taking legal action against the Caldwell School District.
Thursday, January 19, the ACLU Idaho hosted a Latinx educational listening session for parents and students about training and rights in schools at Nampa Smoky Mountain Pizza.
