A North Carolina high school teacher has been placed on paid leave after stomping on the U.S. flag.
Lee Francis is a history teacher in Fayetteville. He provided the lesson about the First Amendment to his students that included the controversial demonstration.
Mr. Francis defended himself on Facebook, saying the demonstration was a lesson about Texas v. Johnson, a case about flag desecration.
However, stomping on the American flag is against the law in North Carolina. It reads:
“To cast contempt upon any flag of the United States or upon any flag of North Carolina by public acts of physical contact including, but not limited to, mutilation, defiling, defacing or trampling.”
The American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina said the Constitution though gives people the right to free speech and expression, no matter how much others may disagree or be uncomfortable.
One social media user was shocked Mr. Francis stomped on the flag in front of children of military members.
Mr. Francis is meeting with Cumberland County School system officials Thursday to discuss the incident. He will remain on leave pending the completion of the investigation.
He could face misdemeanor charges.
This story originally appeared at www.aol.com
