NJ teen barred from abortion protest sues school
This was an article from the AP. sorry, I erased that part. What do you think? Is it right to NOT let her participate in something that has a religious background in a public school? Is it right for them to NOT let her pass out anti-abortion literature at school?
NJ teen barred from abortion protest sues school
MOUNT LAUREL, N.J. - A New Jersey high school student claims in a federal lawsuit that school administrators violated her First Amendment free-speech and religious-freedom rights when they said she couldn't participate in a day of silent protest against abortion.
The girl, identified in court papers as C.H., says she asked the Bridgeton High School principal last month for permission to join in the Pro Life Day of Silent Solidarity, a worldwide protest organized each year by Stand True, a ministry in Troy, Ohio. But the principal said no, telling her she couldn't do anything "religious," according to her lawsuit.
The lawsuit was filed Friday in U.S. District Court in Camden by a lawyer hired by the Alliance Defense Fund, a Scottsdale, Ariz.-based legal group that takes on religious freedom cases on behalf of Christians. The organization sent an advisory before the day of protest that it would defend students who are barred from participating.
ADF senior counsel David Cortman says his group has intervened in dozens of cases across the country over the six years the protest has been held and has filed suits in about a dozen. He said some have been successful and others are still pending.
Cortman said the group has heard from students barred from protesting last month at two other New Jersey schools, as well as schools in Oklahoma, Virginia, Texas and Idaho.
When schools bar the protests, he said, they usually cite the separation of church and state - which his group says is not in the Constitution.
"The school district basically held that there is no religion allowed in school, which violates the students' First Amendment rights," Cortman said.
In the Bridgeton case, the student planned to remain silent on Oct. 20, except when called on in class at her public school. She also wanted to wear an armband with the word "life" on it and to hand out anti-abortion pamphlets. Some students who participate in the protest put tape across their mouths to show they're speaking for the unborn, who can't speak for themselves, Cortman said.
The Bridgeton girl says in the lawsuit she was later punished for attempting to share her views because school officials did not excuse two days of absence due to an illness in the family.
Now, the girl is seeking a court order to be allowed to conduct a protest.
Her lawyer, Michael Kiernan, referred calls on the case to ADF, which said that the student and her family - including her father, Ronald Hudak, who is also named as a plaintiff - were not going to be made available for comment.
H. Victor Gilson, the school superintendent in Bridgeton, said Tuesday that he hadn't seen the lawsuit yet, but the girl's request was denied for two reasons.
The armband would have violated the school's strict dress code, he said. He said it allows "no insignias unless it has to do with Bridgeton High School."
And he said the school has a policy that generally doesn't allow students or staff to distribute literature without prior approval. He says the policy is in place partly to guard against lawsuits like this one.
He said it's rare for a student to make such a request and said he could not recall the last time a student even asked to hand out materials.
I dont have a problem with her protesting, she is entitled to her own opinion but something like that needs to be handled outside of school. If she is allowed to pass out information about her political and religious views, is everyone else going to be allowed the same thing? No, I don't think so.
Quoting scottyliammom:
I dont have a problem with her protesting, she is entitled to her own opinion but something like that needs to be handled outside of school. If she is allowed to pass out information about her political and religious views, is everyone else going to be allowed the same thing? No, I don't think so.
I compleatly agree. If you let 1 person do it then you have to let them all do it. And that won't happen.
Quoting scottyliammom:
I dont have a problem with her protesting, she is entitled to her own opinion but something like that needs to be handled outside of school. If she is allowed to pass out information about her political and religious views, is everyone else going to be allowed the same thing? No, I don't think so.
I love the posts where people vote but will not say why they voted the way they did. I am perfectly willing to keep this to a nice conversation but the other person that answered is pretty much thinking the same thing I am and I would love to hear from someone whose opinion differs from mine.
I don't see why she can't do the Silent part at school.... I really don't.... I have NO problem with it... IM Very pro-Chose but I think that she should have the right to do that... I mean some school still allow prayer groups and such... Isn't that the same thing?? Im also Not religious in any way... I don't think Handing out Flyer is ok but just being quiet should be fine... I think she has a good case... But then thats JMO!!
OMG - your siggy is great!! I have been saying that for waaaay too long!!
Quoting apeclark2008:I don't see why she can't do the Silent part at school.... I really don't.... I have NO problem with it... IM Very pro-Chose but I think that she should have the right to do that... I mean some school still allow prayer groups and such... Isn't that the same thing?? Im also Not religious in any way... I don't think Handing out Flyer is ok but just being quiet should be fine... I think she has a good case... But then thats JMO!!
if she thinks it's ok to pass out anti abortion things, then everyone should be allowed to pass out whatever pamphlets they feel like. and if that happened, people would freak out because pagen, jewish, muslim, buddist, christian, ect. things would be passed out. i don't think she should have been allowed to pass things out at school. take the day of silence, sure...try to turn peoples beliefs...not in my book.
i also don't think that any type of pamphlets and such should ever be handed out at school. i think they should be accessable to students through an outside place like a church. i personally feel like when i'm handed something i don't believe in (eventhough i know i don't have to look or take it) i feel like i'm not allowed my rights to choose my own beliefs and feelings on things, whatever it may be, religious, abortions, to even what grocery store i shop at.
they deserved to get sued! I'm pro-choice, but i'm also for free speech...
i grew up in Jersey and some of the crap the schools pull out there is ridiculous. When i was in HS out there they tried having every kid with a cell phone arrested, they would call the cops, but the cops wouldnt do anything because there was no point... after 9-11 everyone told them to go to hell.
Another thing to keep in mind, for those who don't believe she should because of religious beliefs, keep in mind that most schools out there have days off for every religious holiday in the book. You're also taught about different religions in school. If some christian girl wants to spread the word about her beliefs let her do it, they dont stop kids from spreading their political views, same thing to me! Besides most HS kids will throw whatever she has on the ground and laugh at her if they don't like it. The school shouldnt be the one making the choice for them...
But anyways all school bashing aside i might have hated the administrators, but i did get a pretty good education...
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- scottyliammom
on Nov. 20, 2009 at 3:05 PM