2 Colorado schools lift U.S. flag bans

DENVER, April 8 (UPI) -- Two Colorado school districts have dropped bans on wearing T-shirts with U.S. flags and other patriotic gear after learning the bans violated state law.

Myla Shepherd, principal of Shaw Heights Middle School in Denver, instituted a ban on all flags after students baited each other with U.S. and Mexican flags, The Washington Times reported. The incident followed nationwide protests over the proposed immigration bill that passed the House of Representatives.

Skyline High School in Longmont enacted its ban after a similar episode.

Colorado Attorney General John Suthers notified both schools Thursday they were in violation of a state law that outlaws any restriction on respectful flag displays.

Several students at Shaw were arrested Thursday for wearing shirts with the flag and the U.S. Marine Corps logo.