News & Media

ADF attorneys file suit to defend Mich. middle school student’s constitutional right to free speech

MONROE, Mich. — Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund filed a federal lawsuit today on behalf of a middle school student whose peaceful, pro-life expression was censored by school officials during last October’s “Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity.”  The event, sponsored by Stand True, is a student-led effort to educate fellow classmates about the harms caused by abortion.

“The First Amendment protects students’ rights to express their views to their classmates in a non-disruptive manner,” said ADF Litigation Counsel Delia van Loenen.  “Nevertheless, some school officials still target faith-based messages for censorship.  The U.S. Supreme Court ruled nearly 40 years ago that students do not shed their First Amendment right to free speech when they enter the schoolhouse gate.  That still holds true today.”

On Oct. 24, a student attending Jefferson Middle School in Monroe chose to participate in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity.  He expressed his pro-life viewpoint to his classmates by handing out literature and wearing red tape and a sweatshirt that read, “Pray to End Abortion.”  His first-hour teacher sent him to the principal’s office, where the school’s administration told him that his message was “bad” and “disruptive.”  He was ordered to change his clothes so that the pro-life message on his sweatshirt could not be seen, and he was forbidden from passing out leaflets.

“Our client did not violate the school’s dress code policy, nor was he disruptive in any way.  The school singled out his speech for censorship because of its pro-life message.  He was accosted by school officials and disciplined for nothing more than the lawful exercise of his First Amendment rights,” van Loenen explained.  “It’s our hope that the court will move quickly to restore this most basic of constitutional rights, not only for this student, but for all other students who wish to peacefully express their opinions on important issues.”

ADF is a legal alliance of Christian attorneys and like-minded organizations defending the right of people to freely live out their faith. Launched in 1994, ADF employs a unique combination of strategy, training, funding, and litigation to protect and preserve religious liberty, the sanctity of life, marriage, and the family.