Family of eighth grader banned from all school sports for ‘blackface’ sues

The family of a California teenager filed suit after their son was banned from all athletic events and suspended because the eye paint he wore to a high school football game was deemed to be “blackface.”

“The only people showing absolute racism right now is the school administrators,” Daniel Ameduri, the father of the student, identified as J.A. in the lawsuit, said.

Filed in the Southern District of California, the suit details how J.A. became the center of national attention after he attended an Oct. 13 football game between La Jolla High School and Morse High School donning “warrior” paint on his cheeks and chin.

The face paint appeared not to cover the teenager’s whole face, but Muirland Middle School Principal Jeff Luna was quick to accuse J.A. of painting “his face black at a football game” in an act that a disciplinary note deemed an “offensive comment” with the “intent to harm.”

Morse High School has a “largely black” student population, Luna said at the time, and J.A. was subjected to a two-day suspension and ban from all future sports events.

After months of distress, J.A. and his family are “fighting back,” according to a release from the Center for American Liberty.

⚖️ LAWSUIT FILED: California middle schooler is suing the school officials who accused him of wearing “blackface” after he wore eye black to a football game. pic.twitter.com/OrZLk5ToXH

— Center for American Liberty (@Liberty_Ctr) January 17, 2024

“J.A. is suing to remove this false and baseless allegation of racist hate violence from his school records so that he can continue his education without the stain of an accusation of racist behavior,” the release read.

“In America, we stand proudly on the idea that the accused are innocent until proven guilty. We can’t let cancel culture trample on such a fundamental principle.”

Officials at Muirland Middle School sought out J.A. because they wanted to appear as a force addressing racism, according to the release.

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE WASHINGTON EXAMINER

“No reasonable person would believe that a middle school kid wearing athletic eye black intended to intimidate anyone or send a racist message,” the release read. “But that’s just it — those who worship cancel culture don’t think reasonably. There is no place for logic, evidence, or listening in the religion of cancellation.”

“J.A. now has a suspension for a hate crime on his permanent school record. This suspension could impact his ability to gain acceptance to future high schools, colleges, and certain occupations. J.A.’s future is on the line.”

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