Patriotic welcome for girl who wore Romney T-shirt to class

A 16-year-old Philadelphia high school student returned to classes today after being ridiculed by a teacher for wearing a Romney/Ryan T-shirt to class last week.

Samantha Pawlucy, a sophomore at Charles Carroll High School in Port Richmond, was greeted by about 20 Mitt Romney supporters and others who backed her right to wear the T-shirt.

Pawlucy said that she was touched by all the support she received. As the crowd sung the National Anthem, tears were visible on her cheeks. Pawlucy then read a portion the Declaration of Independence.

Although she said she’d been threatened in text messages and Facebook, Pawlucy said she had no fear about returning to class.

Her father, Richard Pawlucy, said, “We just want her to go to school and have a normal life.” School police were on the scene.

Brian O’Neil, a self-described strong supporter of First Amendment rights, drove to Port Richmond from Holland, Pa., early this morning, and sported homemade “Charles Carroll protect Samantha Pawlucy” buttons.

“I’m sure Samantha’s classmates are going to be protecting her too when they realize what really happened here and that her speech needs to be protected,” O’Neil said.

The student said that she’s learned not to give up in what she believes in.

“Good things in life are hard,” Pawlucy said.