In Towson, Maryland, an 18-year-old high school student and soon-to-be U.S. Marine has found himself in the middle of a legal firestorm after being suspended for standing up for something many would consider a basic expression of patriotism: the display of the American flag.
Parker Jensen, a senior at Towson High School, noticed that two of his classrooms were missing American flags—a violation of Maryland state law requiring their presence. After raising the issue with school leadership in February and receiving no action, Jensen persisted, eventually taking his concerns to the Baltimore Board of Education.
It was there, according to Jensen’s lawsuit, that the situation escalated. After signing in as a visitor and recording his attempt to file a formal complaint, Jensen was ordered by a supervisor to stop recording and leave the premises. Officers were called, and they reportedly told Jensen he needed to be a credentialed journalist to record in the building. Despite Jensen’s non-disruptive behavior, School Safety Emergency Manager Richard Muth informed him on the spot that he was being suspended from school.
Now, Jensen has filed a lawsuit against the school district, alleging wrongful suspension and violation of his rights. He remains suspended from Towson High School until April 8.
Jensen’s case is part of a broader national trend where expressions of patriotism—particularly the display of the American flag—have become flashpoints of controversy. In 2023, a Virginia teen refused to remove American flags from his truck despite school orders. A similar incident unfolded in Indiana in 2024, and a protest erupted in Oklahoma when students were told they could not fly the American flag on campus.
Maryland school suspends Marine hopeful after American flag law controversy https://t.co/6TPKOLGcjh pic.twitter.com/g9gxlaVZuF
— New York Post (@nypost) April 24, 2025
Beyond the flag issue, Jensen claims that his school has been hostile to conservative viewpoints, promoting leftist causes while pushing back against students who support the military, border security, and leaders like President Donald Trump and Elon Musk, who heads the Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE).
Baltimore County Public Schools issued a statement suggesting the campus was already working to rectify the absence of flags, but that explanation does little to address why a student championing compliance with state law would face disciplinary action rather than support.
In a statement to Fox News, Jensen stood firm: “I believe my persistence in standing up for patriotism may have opened others’ eyes to the importance of patriotism in our school systems.” He added, “At the end of the day, I believe it was beneficial, not just for me, but for the entire school community. It serves as a reminder that it is our responsibility, as citizens, to hold our government accountable, and I believe I did just that within my school.”
