The school later retracted its stance.
“He was just concerned at first that there could be a problem,” Inskeep said of Alexander. “After we talked about it, it is the kids’ First Amendment right.”
Bowers’ mother had asked students to wear the shirts, but they were told that if they didn’t take off the shirts they would have to go home, Inskeep confirmed.
“If those shirts wind up causing a problem or disruption or danger to other kids, then the principal has the right, at that point, to ask them to remove them,” Inskeep said. “At this point, they’re expressing themselves as per the First Amendment and we’re honoring that.
“Common sense took over and we acted appropriately.”
Jessica Combs, Bowers’ mother, said she and others in the community wanted to honor the type of person that Bowers was through the shirts.
“There have been quite a few Kettering Fairmont students that have worn them and lots of people around the community that have bought shirts in honor of Ronnie and to support his legacy,” Combs said. “The outreach of people has been overwhelming.”
Combs, who said the initial response from the school to ban the shirts was “awkward,” has sold nearly 100 shirts bearing Ronnie’s face, with more likely on the way.
“The kids love it. It’s a very odd situation that a 16-year-old lost his life in the way that he did,” she said. “It’s a way for the kids to help them grieve and for them to remember their friend in a positive way.”
Bowers, who was a junior at Fairmont, was killed after an ongoing feud involving other students led to gunfire. Combs hopes the memory of her son will lead to more awareness of teen violence.
“If he can be remembered as someone who was kind and trying to stay away from violence, maybe we can bring more awareness to stopping teen-on-teen violence. It needs to stop,” Combs said.
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