Central Florida 7th grader called racist for wearing Palin t-shirt

By Melissa DiPane

FOX 35 NEWS

VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. (WOFL FOX 35, Orlando) -- She's only 12 years old but Ashleigh Jones is feeling the heat of this election year.

That’s because the seventh grader at New Smyrna Beach Middle School was called a racist by classmates for wearing a pro-Sarah Palin t-shirt.

Jones is volunteering at the Republican Headquarters in New Smyrna Beach. The Palin t-shirt was a gift from her fellow volunteers.

VIDEO: --Student called out for political t-shirt
But when she wore it to school she learned just how tough politics can be.

“Some of the students were calling me racist because I was Caucasian,” she said. “I wanted the Caucasian man to win. And I told them that’s not true. It’s my freedom of speech, it’s my opinion.”

Jones' parents say they aren't mad at the school they just want everyone including their daughter to voice their opinion constructively.

Officials with Volusia County Schools said there were no referrals or complaints to the office about this incident.

Ashleigh said that more of her friends are expressing their views by wearing political t-shirts and she plans to wear hers again.