Two Little Miami, Ohio high school football players who were suspended from their team for entering a game while carrying the Thin Blue Line and Thin Red Line(commemorating firefighters) flags have been freed from suspension, after community members expressed outrage at the punishment of the two young men.

Jarad Bentley and Brady Williams had been given an indefinite suspension from the Little Miami High School football team for carrying the two flags onto the field before a game, apparently violating a rule against political symbols. The two seniors reject the notion that they were making a political statement, and one of the boys had spoken of his intention to honor first responders, such as his own father, on the anniversary of 9/11.

Two Little Miami football players pay the price for civil disobedience. They were told not to carry onto the field thin blue line and thin red line flags at their 9/11 game. They did anyway. The school has now suspended them from the team indefinitely. #ThinBlueLine #ThinRedLine pic.twitter.com/19y9GAvaxr

— David Winter (@DavidWinterTV) September 14, 2020

After concerned parents and community members organized a protest event to stand with Williams and Bentley, the Little Miami School Board reversed its decision, freeing the senior players from suspension.

The President of the school board seemed keen to establish that the institution “supports police,” perhaps feeling the pressure from angry parents displeased to see the patriotic young men kicked from the football team for an innocuous display of patriotism.

UPDATE: High school players REINSTATED after suspension for honoring 9/11 first responders ==>https://t.co/i7hbJ7VLgr

— Michelle Malkin (@michellemalkin) September 15, 2020

They still might face some consequences, and reportedly team officials had commanded the players not to enter the field with the flags. Their punishment will be settled within the athletic department’s code of conduct.

College and high school sports teams put on elaborate displays in support of the left-wing Black Lives Matter movement all the time. Pro-police and firefighter flags are not a political statement by a long shot. This suspension never should’ve been issued in the first place.