Suburban Chicago Student Dresses As Jesus For Halloween, Pulled From Class

By Chuck Sudo in News on Oct 31, 2013 7:40PM

A suburban teenager who went to put together a sweet looking Jesus costume for Halloween was ordered to remove the costume by his high school before he could attend class on Thursday.

Highland Park High School student Marshon Sanders’ costume consisted of a white robe, red sash, a long necklace with a crucifix attached and a head scarf when he was sent to the dean’s office and first ordered to remove the cross before being instructed later to remove the entire costume.

According to the school’s director of communications Melinda Vajdic, Sanders was found in violation of a school policy that costumes which “could be offensive or perpetuate a stereotype of someone’s culture, gender, sexual orientation, heritage or religion are not permitted.” Vajdic told the Lake County News-Sun, “Costumes trivialize. I’m sure that wasn’t his intent, but we want to maintain a culture of mutual respect.”

Did any students complain about Sanders’ costume? Nope. Sanders’ mother, Anjanettea Frison, said the dean told her two teachers were offended.

“When I asked her what she meant by offensive, she couldn’t tell me,” Frison said. “He’s walking around dressed like Jesus, a religious icon. What’s offensive about that?”

Frison and her family are members of Jesus Name Apostolic Church in Waukegan; sanders also attends church services at Willow Creek Community Church in Barrington. Frison said her son chose to dress as Jesus and she “encouraged him to dress as someone inspiring or uplifting.” Last year Sanders dressed as Snoop Dogg for Halloween and Frison said “they didn’t have a problem with that.”