School nixes game amid furor over cheerleaders’ Trump banner

NEW LONDON, N.C. – Officials in a North Carolina school district have cancelled a football game at a high school where cheerleaders were placed on probation for displaying a banner that said, “Trump 2020: Make America Great Again.”

Stanly County Schools announced Friday that it decided to cancel the North Stanly High School game over what it called “additional information that could compromise safety measures” for sporting events. Officials didn’t detail that information.

Supporters had urged fans to attend the game to back the cheerleaders and protest the North Carolina High School Athletic Association’s decision to put the squad on probation.

The banner was displayed before the Aug. 30 game at North Stanly, northeast of Charlotte.

County Schools Superintendent Jeff James has said all North Carolina schools have a policy against displaying political signs.