Cali middle schooler banned from sports over 'blackface,' group says it was eye paint

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A California middle school student was recently suspended and barred from attending future sporting events in the school district after being accused of wearing blackface at a football game.

The Oct. 13 incident that resulted in the student's suspension – first brought to the public's attention by the popular X account Libs of TikTok – took place at a high school football game between La Jolla High School and Morse High School.

The student – identified as J.A. for privacy reasons by the Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE), a nonpartisan nonprofit dedicated to defending freedom of speech – reportedly wore black face paint under his eyes for the game, leading to backlash from the principal of Muirlands Middle School in La Jolla.

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One week after the game, FIRE, which intervened in the matter in an effort to protect the student, said the principal called J.A. and his parents to a meeting, where he told them the student would face a two-day suspension and barred from attending future athletic events for wearing blackface.

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The disciplinary notice obtained by FIRE described J.A.’s alleged offense as "painted his face black at a football game" and categorized the incident as "Offensive comment, intent to harm."

In a letter to the school's principal, FIRE expressed concern over the school's handling of the situation and called for a reversal of the decision.

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"J.A. wore his eye black throughout the game without incident," FIRE added in the letter.

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