Posted on 06/05/2003 12:28:24 PM PDT by chance33_98
ACLU Puts Texas School on Notice
Wednesday, 4 June 2003
SAN ANTONIO, Tx. -- The American Civil Liberties Union demanded on Wednesday that San Antonio's Luther Burbank High School stop its censorship efforts against students who took part in a silent protest last March against anti-gay violence. The ACLU also insisted that the school pledge not to punish students who take part in such actions in the future.
The group was particularly incensed over allegations that Burbank's principal, Andrew Rodriguez, forced students to remove "I support Day of Silence" stickers from their clothing and tore them off himself if they didn't immediately comply.
Rodriguez warned students associated with the Amnesty International Club he would not allow them to sponsor Day of Silence activities. Feeling their free speech rights had been trampled, a small group of students went ahead with their plans independently of the club. Burbank officials retaliated by shutting down Amnesty.
"We're appalled at this school's actions against a group of peaceful, law-abiding students. The school violated the Amnesty International Club's right to free expression by telling it that it could not sponsor Day of Silence. It then did the same thing to individual students who were peacefully taking part in it [and] violated the federal Equal Access Act when it abolished the club," said the ACLU's Ken Choe.
"We were really careful to make sure that what we were doing was legal and didn't interfere with school," said Andrea Adame, a senior at the high school who helped organize Day of Silence Activities.
"All we were doing was being quiet and wearing stickers that explained what the day was all about, and we made sure students knew they should speak in classes where they have to. . ."
In a letter sent to Rodriguez and San Antonio Independent School District Superintendent Ruben Olivarez, the ACLU demanded the school immediately reinstate the Amnesty club and stop interfering in the exercise of their students' constitutional rights.
As long as they don't abuse it by praying. I wonder what their position would be on praying for gays?
As far as the day of silence goes, I would support perpetual silence for those groups.
Anyone else having trouble following this?
Let me see if I got this straight {Pun intended}
The school is against the students who are against anti-gay violence. Just wondering if the students are for gay violence. And if so, would that be violence committed by gays or violence done to gays? Which then makes me wonder what if this whole thing really means the school was for students that were for gays. I'm so confused.
Actually this doesn't bother me. I'm for freedom of association, and if they want to associate this way that's fine. As long as it doesn't impede on the learning process. It was a silent protest so that probably didn't impact learning at all. How would you like it if crosses were ripped of kids necks because the school felt they were promoting religion?
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