Posted on 12/20/2004 3:09:38 PM PST by DixieOklahoma
SCV supports Jaqueline Duty Confederate Prom Dress Lawsuit to be filed in Federal court in Lexington, KY
Press Release - December 17, 2004 - For Immediate Release
This past May Jacqueline Duty, an attractive honor student in Russell, Kentucky, prepared to attend prom night wearing a special dress she had designed herself. It was a classically cut strapless sheath, ankle-length with a shallow slit on one side, and sewn completely out of beaded sequins. And it tastefully incorporated a symbol of her Southern heritage; a Confederate Battle Flag turned upwards so that the starry blue arms of the St. Andrews Cross appeared to lay across the dress as a sash would.
What was supposed to be a most special night turned to horror, though, as her civil rights were grossly violated by the school principal, who prevented Jacqueline from even getting out of her car, yelled at her, threatened her and had police force her away simply for expressing pride in her Southern heritage.
Justice and equality for all includes Southerners, said Don Shelton, spokesman for the Kentucky Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans. The support we provided for Castorina v. Madison County School Board helped make that point abundantly clear with the ruling made by the federal 6th circuit court. The support were providing for Jacqueline Duty should convince school systems that civil rights for Southern students is still a serious issue.
The Kentucky Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans is offended by school administrators who think that Southern students dont have the same constitutional rights as others. The SCV is aware of a number of school situations in Kentucky where the civil rights of Southern students are being violated by fiat or policy. Our message to school administrators is to obey the law and respect the rights of all students or face the inevitable legal consequences. Our message to the students and parents is that help is available. For more information go to www.kyscv.org.
The suit will be filed 1 p.m. Monday, December 20th at the federal courthouse in Lexington, KY. There will be a press conference at that time on the courthouse steps.
For further information contact:
Don Shelton Kentucky Division, SCV Heritage Defense Chairman
(859) 885-3248
(859) 396-4308
sheltonreb@qx.net
www.kyscv.org/heritage.htm
This brings the total plaintiffs in the case to 3 I believe. The Southern Legal Resource Center (SLRC), The Kentucky division Sons of Confederate Veterans, and of course the lovely lady wearing the dress in question
Stylistic variation:
Slipped while meaning to show a distinction between the Sates' flag and the battle flag. The Battle flag and States' flag are different animals, and most people wouldn't know what the States' flag looked like, or think the battle flag was the flag of the Southern states. She picked the battle flag to get a rise out of people, but that's her and her parent's choice.
Thanks for the head's up.
I have a Battle Flag that I wear every day - it's a tattoo on my left arm with the word "Tennessee" under it.
Years ago, I was at a Bill Cosby Concert and was introduced to John Forsythe. He saw the tattoo and asked if I was from Tennessee. When I said I was, he asked what part and I told him "All of me, of course." He broke out laughing.
That's not the flag of the Confederacy. That's the battle flag. The Stars & Bars was the flag of the Confederacy and that's the Southern Cross (which was also the battle flag).
I think the dress is in poor taste; not only does it NOT look good on her, it belittles the sacrifices of those who fought for AND against it.
I'd bet a months pay that there is some Civil War re-enacting going on in that family.
I'm not criticizing it - it seems to me that a girl from such a family might be genuine with her pride and not doing it to get a rise.
I got the feeling that she's very proud of those sacrifices--that's why she wore the dress.
WOW! What an amazing dress! Makes me proud to be a rebel! And, a fellow Kentuckian!!
This is the south tax-chic. Could be her cousin, brother, or father and her date!
I side with the schools position but not the stated reason.
No one should be allowed to desecrate the confederate flag by wearing it. It is far too noble a symbol to be used as clothing.
Now the UN flag OTOH would make a great grease rag........
Someone should inform the principal that the South lost.
Well, I for one like it. It could have been a whole lot worse.
This was just plain stupid on the part of the school.
It is just obvious that if there was an anti-american PC symbolism on a prom dress then that would be acceptable. If some wacko had worn a dress with a free the "cop killer de jour" that would be acceptable.
Where is the picture of the principle?
She ain't gonna win any beauty contests ... but I wouldn't (have, when I was a young man) toss her out for eating crackers.
I think she looks lovely in that dress. A shame that this happened to her. It'n not an "in your face" type of design.
It is yet another example of misplaced loyalties and lost cause mythology worship
She has every right (IMO) to wear it. banning her from her prom is ridiculous & indefensible. Stupidity and poor taste are not against the law. I hope the school gets pummeled.
Her companion displays the absolute MOST common historical error in all of re-enacting ...
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