Alyssa Esquivel, an American Sign Language aide who sued the San Gabriel Unified School District for censorship, discrimination and retaliation because of her Christian faith and pro-Trump stance, has settled with the district, her attorneys announced Tuesday, Oct. 21.
According to the Advocates for Faith & Freedom, a nonprofit legal group based in Murrieta that seeks to preserve religious liberties in the courts, the school district has agreed to pay Esquivel unspecified damages and attorneys’ fees as well as clear her termination records.
“This is more than a legal win, it’s a cultural stand,” said attorney Julianne Fleischer. “Public schools cannot bully employees into silence because they dare to express their faith or conservative values.”
District officials could not be reached for comment on Tuesday.
Nicole Velasco, director of communications for the law group, added that they are unable to disclose the specific terms of the settlement, but that the resolution affirms Esquivel’s constitutional rights to free speech, as well as federal and state labor laws protections regarding employment discrimination based on religion.
The case began about a year after Esquivel was hired by the district in 2022 as an ASL special education instructional aide.
Her lawsuit states that in May 2023, another aide who worked with her at Del Mar High School moved Esquivel’s water bottle, which had a sticker of a smiling Donald Trump, saying she “didn’t want Trump” looking at her. About a month later, that aide flipped over a desk, Esquivel said, because she objected to the water bottle being placed there.
Esquivel also carried an American flag-themed backpack with “Trump” printed in capital letters in front.
Officials told Esquivel to refrain from displaying both items, but after consultation with an attorney, she continued to bring the water bottle and backpack, using patches to cover the president’s name to only reveal the letters “T-R-U.”
She alleged other employees continued to mistreat her and refused to work with her, shortchanging deaf students who couldn’t understand the lessons.
District officials later put Esquivel on involuntary leave before suspending her indefinitely, citing a California law that, in at least some circumstances, prohibits on-campus politicking and wearing political attire while students were in session.
In February 2024, the district terminated her employment, citing inefficiency, insubordination, discourteous treatment of colleagues, improper political activity and violation of district policy, according to the lawsuit.
Esquivel sued the district that July, naming as defendants James Symonds, district superintendent; Ross Perry, assistant superintendent of human resources; and then-principal of Del Mar High School Muhammad Abdul-Qawi.
In a statement released by her attorneys, Esquivel said she has found another job and hopes her case inspires others to take a stand when they feel their rights are being violated.
“I stood firm because my faith and convictions are worth more than a paycheck,” she said.