Metal Mulisha May Sue Murrieta Valley Schools Over Ban on Clothing Line

My youngest has been wearing a Metal Mulisha t-shirt to school, and skateboarding last week. I guess he's a growing little Nazi stormtrooper, or something.

At LAT:

An Irvine-based company is threatening to sue a Riverside County school district over its ban on a clothing line inspired by a local stunt dirt bike team and adorned with logos resembling Nazi insignia.

The Metal Mulisha Riders from Temecula — known for their irreverent attitudes, gravity-defying stunts and tattoos — have many fans among motocross-loving teenagers. But critics say the clothes they wear include Nazi-style helmets and a lightning bolt "S" similar to those worn by Nazi military forces.

Many school districts forbid gang or hate-related paraphernalia and symbols in their dress-code policies. In the Inland Empire, several schools — including the Murrieta Valley Unified School District, which serves Temecula — have barred high school students from wearing clothes branded with the Mulisha logo.

"It's not a district-wide ban," said district spokeswoman Karen Parris. "It was implemented at the high schools four years ago, a joint decision made by our high school principals."

But after receiving letters warning of a possible lawsuit from MM Compound Inc., the licensee of the Metal Mulisha brand, Murrieta school officials are reconsidering the dress-code policy and seeking a compromise, Parris said.

In the letter to Supt. Stan Scheer in September, the company accuses the district of trademark dilution and violating MM Compound's constitutional rights to free speech and expression, in addition to violating students' 1st Amendment and due process rights.

"We are a lifestyle clothing company, that's what Metal Mulisha is," said Bill Gage, vice president of marketing and sales. "I think the brand itself is edgy, rebellious and appeals to a younger demographic."

He said the clothing never had any political, religious or ideological bent. In the letter, Metal Mulisha Riders are described as "devout Christians" who set a "good example for those around them." The intent, the group has said, was never to spread racism or Nazism.

Actually, joking aside, the helmet at the logo is an exact replica of Nazi Germany's Stahlhelm, the generic steel helmet used by German troops during World War II. I noticed this years ago, when my oldest son started wearing boys sportswear. I didn't think too much about it, although Metal Mulisha wasn't my first pick, compared to something like O'Neal or Quicksilver. But again, to suggest that a bunch of extreme sports athletes in SoCal are pushing for a gangland race war is stretching it --- really stretching it. I'm with Metal Mulisha on this one.