Bus Driver Resigns Over MAGA Hat Controversy
Dave Bonhoff, a former police officer from Baltimore County, Pennsylvania, recently worked as a bus driver for the Littlestown Area School District. He often wore his “Make America Great Again” hat while driving through Littlestown, a small borough near the Maryland state line.
Bonhoff expressed the desire to express himself freely, stating, “I don’t want someone to say, ‘Well, my feelings are hurt.’ I have to take off my hat.” However, on February 18, Bonhoff received a call from his supervisor at Kreis Transportation, informing him that a student had complained about his MAGA hat.
“She said, ‘I’m going to buy you a hat, a Stars and Stripes hat, because the school district decided they didn’t want you to wear the ‘Make America Great Again’ hat,'” Bonhoff recounted.
In response to this incident, Bonhoff decided to resign that same day, just before the afternoon drop-off. He noted, “If it wasn’t a condition of my employment, I would go back to work tomorrow. I miss my kids. I had a great relationship with those kids.”
He further articulated his stance, arguing that the hat is not inherently political but rather patriotic. When questioned about the connection of MAGA hats to Donald Trump, he remarked that the focus should be on the idea of making America great. “Anyone who doesn’t want America to prosper, I condemn them,” he added.
Bonhoff pointed out that past presidents, both Republican and Democrat, have used the phrase “Make America Great Again,” suggesting the slogan’s broader cultural significance.
Al Moyer, the acting superintendent of the Littlestown Area School District, conveyed that school districts should remain neutral on sensitive issues. He noted that Kreis Transportation, where Bonhoff was employed, made the call regarding the hat, not the school district.
Kreis Transportation disputed claims of issuing an ultimatum but cited a dress code in their handbook that prohibits apparel with political sentiments deemed inappropriate.
Bonhoff reiterated his wish to express himself freely. “I don’t want someone to say, ‘Well, my feelings are hurt. Take off your hat,'” he said.
Pennsylvania Senator Doug Mastriano commented on the situation, calling political correctness a “tool of intimidation.” He highlighted Bonhoff’s courage in standing up for his beliefs, stating that no American should have to choose between their job and their constitutional freedoms.
