Brentwood students protest transfer of teacher who took a knee

Supporters of a Brentwood teacher packed a school board meeting Wednesday night, to argue against his transfer to another school.

Tyler Rust is a Heritage High School history teacher, who also advises several clubs and the mock trial team. 

His supporters say he is being punished for taking a knee during a flag ceremony, and dozens of students and parents pleaded to keep him.  

"We trust in Rust, we trust in Rust," teenagers chanted, outside the Liberty Union High School District meeting. 

During the public comment portion of the agenda, Rust's students and former students crowded out the door and lined up to speak.  

"Shame on the administration," said one woman, a graduate of Heritage High five years ago. 

Cell phone video, now widely shared, shows Rust taking a knee as members of the campus Junior ROTC raise the U.S. flag before school. Rust did so occasionally to protest police brutality and racial injustice. 

His supporters say his willingness to be opinionated, sometimes provocative, challenged them to think critically and learn.  

"He made me think this country does need fixing, but I love this country so much, I should make it better," said Heritage High senior Vanessa Rodriguez Vega.

Rust has been informed that, after 11 years at Heritage High, he is being reassigned to Liberty High School a few miles away, starting next year.     

"It's a new look, a fresh start, " District Superintendent Eric Volta told KTVU, "and he will be a full-time teacher, of social studies and history, retain all his employment rights, and simply move schools." 

Amid a sea of support for Rust, one parent criticized his actions. 

"This incident with the flag was unethical, uncalled for, and an act of bullying," declared a parent who identified himself as David S. 

He said his daughter, as a member of Jr ROTC, was intimidated by Rust and dreaded the possibility of having him as her teacher. 

"Take the transfer and learn from it and and express your political beliefs in a more appropriate location," admonished Mr. S. 

Rust was not in the room; students said he did not attend because he did not want to distract attention from them. 

"This whole matter comes down to freedom of speech," argued parent Cassandra Youngblood, who has had two sons in Jr ROTC, and were both fond of Rust as a teacher. 

"The student who took this video was making foul-mouthed comments," said Youngblood, " while the person he was videotaping was simply kneeling in silence expressing his First Amendment right." 

The board heard many testimonials to Rust's dedication, not only in the classroom but during after-hours supporting clubs. 

"I can honestly say that without his influence I would not be going to the university that I am, " said graduating senior Halle Dawite.

Volta said after the meeting, the transfer was final, and stems from more than one incident. 

"The flag was definitely not the final straw, just a large piece of the puzzle, one of the disruptions," said Volta. 

An online petition started by students has collected more than 12,000 signatures supporting Rust, some local, but many from across the country.

Rust has indicated he appreciates the outpouring but will accept the move to Liberty High, which incidentally, has no Jr.ROTC program.