High school cheerleaders holding MAGA banner at game off probation

STANLY COUNTY, N.C. - The North Stanly High School cheerleading team is off probation after a political controversy.

The North Carolina High School Athletic Association put the North Stanly High School cheerleading team on probation last month for taking part in a political message at a game.

Students and cheerleaders apparently posed for photos with a "Trump 2020: Make America Great Again" flag last month and the photo circulated on Facebook.

A football game was even abruptly canceled because of safety concerns.

"I don't think it's right," resident Heather Serrano said. "You can't have a flag at the game. They called parents and said not to bring flags."

Stanly County Schools tweeted late Friday afternoon it was notified of "additional information that could compromise safety measures in place for sporting events."

Officials said that, "safety is our first concern."

A mom who has three students at the school said that she understands why the district canceled the game over safety concerns.

"Instead of it being about the kids and the school and school pride and all that that, the high schoolers -- have now -- it's about politics," mother Stacy Herlocker said.