CASTLE ROCK, Colorado — A 12-year-old boy named Jaiden Rodriguez has become a popular speaker after refusing to remove his Gadsden flag patch at school. He recently spoke at a Brave Books weekend reading event sponsored by Grandparents 4 Kids, where he read aloud Kevin Sorbo’s book “The Test of Lionhood” to an enthusiastic audience at the Castle Rock Library.
Jaiden, who was dressed in a blue blazer, khaki slacks, and a red tie, interacted with children and parents after the reading and then headed to speak at Remnant Revolution, a Christian revival tour, in Colorado Springs.
Jaiden told Globeblognews, “I just like to support kids in getting knowledge. I like this book because it talks about bravery, and I’m just glad they’re here to listen to me, that they’re hearing about how to be brave.”
The seventh-grader has embraced his role as a champion of conservative values after facing controversy for wearing a yellow “Don’t Tread on Me” flag on his backpack at school. A viral video showed a school administrator claiming that the patch has connections to slavery, sparking a national debate on American history and free speech. The Vanguard School Board of Directors later reversed their decision and allowed Jaiden to keep the patch.
Since then, Jaiden has been featured in interviews with prominent figures such as Ben Shapiro, Eric Bolling, and Charlie Kirk. He has also received support from Colorado Governor Jared Polis, who referred to the Gadsden flag as a “proud symbol of the American revolution.”
However, Jaiden’s journey is not without obstacles. The Foundation for Individual Rights in Education has written two letters to Harrison School District Two, arguing that school officials were wrong to ban Jaiden from wearing a Firearms Policy Coalition patch on his backpack. In addition, Jaiden’s Gadsden flag patch went missing at school, raising suspicions of foul play.
Jaiden reported the missing patch to the school office but has not yet found it. Despite some students not being supportive, most of his fellow students at the Vanguard School have stood behind him. Jaiden expressed his frustration with the false knowledge surrounding the Gadsden flag controversy.
