California School District Apologizes After High School Student Kicked Out of Class for Wearing NRA T-Shirt

A school district in California has apologized after a student was removed from her history class for wearing a National Rifle Association T-shirt.

Charlene Craig told CBS 13 on Monday that her daughter and another student were allegedly kicked out of their history class at Lodi High School in Lodi, California, on Friday by their history teacher for wearing T-shirts advertising the NRA. Craig claimed the two sophomores were "singled out" by their teacher, who lectured them on the danger of guns, alleging the teacher told them that "guns kill people," she told the news station.

"He basically yelled at her, telling her that she would be writing an essay if she disagreed with him," Craig told the news station.

Craig's daughter, who is 15, was only lectured by the teacher while the other student was sent to the principal's office because they refused to take off the T-shirt, she told CBS13. The shirt had the NRA logo in the front and a picture of shell casings outlining the American Flag with the words "National Rifle Association" on the back, according to the news station.

Craig told CBS 13 that there was not a picture of a gun or a weapon on the T-shirt, which is why it did not violate the school dress code.

"The dress code clearly states weapons," Craig told the news station.

The mother of the 15-year-old daughter told the news station that she understood the NRA is a sensitive topic but said her daughter should not be penalized for other people's beliefs. She told CBS 13 she was "going continue to send my daughter to school" in the T-shirt.

The Lodi Unified School District confirmed to Newsweek that a high school student wore a T-shirt that was questioned by the dress code, but was reviewed and "determined that it did not violate the school's dress code policy."

"Each school has a dress code policy in order to help maintain a positive learning environment without disruption. The Lodi Unified School District prohibits specific clothing when it violates the dress code policy," the statement read. "The student was promptly returned to class and the school administration contacted the family to apologize. The District and school site will continue to ensure that all staff are aware of the dress code requirements to prevent a similar situation from occurring in the future."

Newsweek has reached out to the NRA for comment but did not hear back in time for publication.

A similar incident occurred in January after a student at Liberty School in Hillsboro, Oregon, was suspended for wearing a T-shirt that read "Donald J. Trump Border Wall Construction Co," The Oregonian reported. Addison Barnes, 18, was asked to leave the school and cover up his T-shirt supporting Trump's immigration policies. Barnes sued the school, the district and the principal for violating his First Amendment rights and won a $25,000 settlement as well as an apology letter from the school, the publication reported.