Articles labeled: first amendment rights

A 7th grader was banned from wearing a pro-life t-shirt which read, “Abortion”, followed by 3 pictures — two were graphics of various stages of fetal development and the third one was an empty box with the caption which read “gone”. When the 7th grader showed up for school, she was forced to remove her shirt immediately by order of the principal and assistant principal. The parents are now suing over their daughter’s first amendment rights.

The incident occurred in April 2008 at McSwain Elementary School, a K-8 school in Merced, Calif. Amador alleges in her legal complaint that school Principal Terrie Rohrer, Assistant Principal C.W. Smith and office clerk Martha Hernandez mistreated her daughter and denied the girl her First Amendment rights when they ordered her to leave the cafeteria and change her shirt.

Rules are rules kid. At least, that’s the prevailing attitude of a Pennsylvania high school who ordered a freshman to put his “patriotic” t-shirt inside-out.

But, was detention an over-reaction?

Here’s a description of the tee:

On the front pocket, in addition to the picture of the military sidearm, were the words: “Volunteer Homeland Security.” On the back, superimposed over another image of the weapon, the words “Special issue — Resident — Lifetime License — United States Terrorist Hunting Permit — Permit No. 91101 Gun Owner — No Bag Limit.”

They are, said Miller, 14, patriotic sentiments in a time of war. He feels pretty strongly about these things.

So do officials at the Penn Manor School District, who wanted him to turn his shirt inside out. When Miller refused, he got two days of detention.

His parents, Donald and Tina Miller of Holtwood, got angry and called a lawyer.

And now a lawsuit has been filed in federal court, accusing Penn Manor of violating Miller’s First Amendment rights.