CHARLOTTE, N.C. — More than 8,000 people have signed a petition asking Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools to let a graduating senior walk at graduation.
Micah Hollins is a straight-A student and in a couple months, he'll be heading to Howard University, but he was wrongly suspended from school.
"All four years I worked hard for this moment, and for them to take that away from me is a disappointment," Hollins said.
Hollins was in the courtyard of his high school, Phillip O. Berry Academy of Technology.
He said he was trying to cut through the school to catch a city bus so he could get to work.
He said the assistant principal grabbed his arm and told him he had to go the long way around the school. He tried to go past her and the administrator accused him of pushing her, Hollins said.
He was immediately suspended and told he couldn't walk with his classmates, according to Hollins.
His fellow students are standing behind him.
“I don't believe in injustice and I do believe an injustice was done here in this situation,” student Trent Moyer said.
Hollins said he isn't perfect and he is sorry he lost his cool.
He hopes he can be with his classmates on graduation day.
“I acted out of character and I feel like that made the situation worse,” Hollins said.
The school contacted his mother today and said there's no video evidence that he pushed the assistant principal, he said.
CMS officials said they couldn't comment on the story because of federal privacy laws.
He said CMS will make a decision on whether he can walk at graduation by June 9. Graduation is June 13.
Hollins said this is the first time he has gotten in trouble.
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