HERNANDO, MS (WREG/CNN) - Some Mississippi high school students wore Confederate flag hoodies to school Tuesday.
One parent compared them to a "gang" and is demanding that school officials take action.
It's a symbol that is not unfamiliar to Hernando High School, but it's sparking new controversy after some have chosen to wear it to class.
"I've seen (the student) wearing it and I was, like, 'I can`t believe they're letting him wear that in the building, and stuff like that,'" said Jake Johnson, a former student.
Evangela Cole snapped pictures of at least two students in hoodies plastered with stars and bars, as she was dropping off her son in the morning.
"It's just like a gang," Cole said. "If it's multiple children in the same outfit and the same mindset, that could be intimidating for any child."
Cole said she complained to the principal, but says that's about as far as it went.
"The principal even said other parents have reported it as well, but there's nothing that he can do," she said.
Desoto County Schools said in a statement that principals have the discretion to make all decisions on their campus regarding dress code and "reserves the right to restrict clothing that causes a disruption."
"I don't think it's a distraction for the community or nothing like that," said resident Nathaniel Williams. "I think the people are just being ignorant."
Others are deeply troubled by what they regard as a symbol of hate, including student Destiny Ballin, who says she knows one of the kids in the photo.
"I think he might be playing, like kind of joking with it, but not a lot of people take it as a joke," she said.
It's no joke to Cole. She wishes others would take it more seriously.
"I feel that my complaints are just falling on deaf ears," she said.
It's not clear if the principal will take any further steps to address the complaints.
Copyright 2017 WREG via CNN. All rights reserved.
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