A high school student from Orange County, California, claimed he faced suspension after his “Make America Great Again” hat was taken, leading to a political dispute with another student.
Zach Hornstein, a student at Laguna Beach High School, explained to Fox News Digital that he and some friends wore MAGA hats on September 11 to pay tribute to Charlie Kirk, the Turning Point USA co-founder who was tragically shot and killed the previous day during a speaking event at a college in Utah.
“His passing deeply impacted us,” Hornstein expressed. “While I don’t agree with everything he says, I admire how he encourages students to think critically, consider diverse perspectives, and participate in honest dialogue. My mother is an immigrant, and I’ve been raised to cherish America. On September 11, I wanted to feel a sense of patriotism and express support for our nation as a whole.”
Hornstein recounted that at the end of the day, a female student seized his hat and disposed of it in the girls’ restroom trash. This led to a political confrontation where the student used offensive language regarding President Donald Trump, as reported by KTTV-TV, Fox 11 Los Angeles.
Hornstein stated that although the group “moved past it,” under a teacher’s guidance, he filed an incident report and requested a formal apology. Subsequently, the school suspended both students.
Hornstein called the suspension “extremely upsetting” because it interfered with his rigorous AP class schedule.
“I still don’t understand what exactly I was suspended for,” Hornstein told Fox News Digital. “During the exchange, I humorously remarked, ‘If you don’t like America, Canada has open borders,’ and this was confirmed by several students, including the girl who removed my hat.”
Hornstein said he and the other student remain friends, and he believes school administrators made a mistake.
“She was suspended as well, and I believe that it was a complete overreaction,” he said. “I think it was a highly emotional day for everyone on 9/11, and she made a mistake for which she later apologized.”
“We were able to work through it in a healthy way, and I wish the adults involved had modeled that same approach instead of creating more division,” he added.
His mother, Janet Semenova, told Fox News Digital her son is an honor roll student and had never been disciplined before.
She believes her son was targeted because of his political views.
“I think it’s a double standard,” she told Fox11. “I think kids who have certain political beliefs are held to a different standard than kids who have other political beliefs.”
The Laguna Beach Unified School District said it does not discipline students for expressing political opinions and issued the following statement:
“We are legally required to keep student discipline matters confidential to protect the privacy and well-being of all students. Protecting free expression is fundamental to our democracy, and schools play a critical role in helping young people navigate differing viewpoints with respect. Our responsibility as educators is to support students in engaging through constructive dialogue and healthy debate that is respectful, empathetic, and rooted in civil discourse. High school is a formative time, and we are committed to helping students grow into thoughtful citizens who understand both their rights and responsibilities in a diverse community,” a spokesperson for the district told Fox News Digital.
“When disputes arise on campus, schools must evaluate the behavior involved. California law defines the grounds for suspension, and we are reviewing the facts in this situation through that process to ensure it is handled fairly and consistently,” the statement continued.
The district’s dress code does not restrict students from wearing political apparel, and Hornstein said students are allowed to wear clothing with political messages as long as it is appropriate.
Semenova said the family plans to appeal the suspension before the school board.
“We deeply love this school and its teachers, which makes our disappointment in the administration’s handling of this sensitive situation even more pronounced,” she told Fox News Digital. “What we really want is an acknowledgment from the school that they could have done better and used this as an opportunity for learning and growth, instead of a moment that created further division.
“It is difficult to be a teenager, and I believe that it is our moral responsibility to help them become more empathetic and tolerant adults. In this, perhaps we can all learn a lesson from the late Charlie Kirk.”
