This story has been updated.
Colbert County schools is cracking down on advertising on its Jumbotron at CT Manley Field after a complaint about a large sign supporting former President Donald Trump and vice presidential nominee JD Vance.
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At a football game at Colbert County High School on Friday, a large Trump Vance 2024 sign, with the phrase “Make America Great Again,” dominated the scoreboard.
Superintendent Chris Hand told AL.com that he has told the principal to remove the ad.
“I will be taking action,” Hand said. “I know it’s a political season but we’re gonna be fair in our treatment just as we should be to everyone and not allow any sort of shenanigans to be done…This has never happened before. It’s a surprise to me as well.”
“How is Colbert County going to have this up during the game. I got a problem with this!!!” Mary Clay Hampton wrote in a Facebook post.
“It was like a kick in my stomach just to see that up there,” Hampton told WAAY13 News, “They should have known that it was going to cause a problem. You can not do that, it just doesn’t seem right.”
Hand told AL.com that he found out that the receipt for the ad shows a cash payment marked only as from “Republicans of Colbert County”
Hand said he has directed the principal to ensure that there are no future anonymous payments for personal or political opinions to be displayed on the Jumbotron.
“It is to be used as a fundraiser offering paid ads for actual candidates purchasing ads, along with business owners, or families supporting their students/athletes through purchased ads,” he told AL.com.
He said that for many years, Colbert County Schools has allowed any political candidate to purchase an ad with campaign funs. Typically, only local candidates have participated.
“I can understand how this can be a finger in the eye to some people and we’re not going to allow that to be done on either side,” he said.
