Posted on 12/22/2004 11:53:59 AM PST by kattracks
LEXINGTON, Ky. (AP) A teenager is suing her school district for barring her from the prom last spring because she was wearing a dress styled as a large Confederate battle flag.The lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court claims the Greenup County district and administrators violated Jacqueline Duty's First Amendment right to free speech and her right to celebrate her heritage at predominantly white Russell High School's prom May 1. She also is suing for defamation, false imprisonment and assault.
"Her only dance for her senior prom was on the sidewalk to a song playing on the radio," said her lawyer, Earl-Ray Neal.
Duty, 19, is seeking actual and punitive damages in excess of $50,000.
[snip]
Duty, now a college student, said school officials told her before the prom not to wear the dress, but she didn't have another one and decided to see if administrators would change their minds.
According to her lawsuit, she was met outside by two police officers and principal Sean Howard. She said the principal intimidated her by striking the vehicle she was in.
[snip]
The Sons of Confederate Veterans has promised to help pay some of her legal expenses.
(Excerpt) Read more at nj.com ...
Howdy!
Sue the crap out of them...then again u could of have advoided all this buy just going out to buy another nice cheap dress...but sue em anyways.GO GIRL!!!!!!!!!
From what I understand, she spent months making the dress, and a teacher overheard her talking about it the day or two before and she got a phone call that night telling her not to wear it.
In that circumstance, I think I might have the same attitude.
So you think freedom of speech ends because a school administrator says so?
And since the administrator represents the 'government', that, in itself is a violation of her constitutional rights.
It's cleavage, not hate.
Duty damnit! Duty!
is her dad her prom date??
I suspect that anyone who wanted to see the dress wouyld have to vbisit her at the local jail.
It'so hard to fly like an eagle when you are surronded by turkeys.
Girl needs to learn to pick her battles carefully.
What is wrong with that dress?????????? It covers all the right places. Was all attire subjected to preapproval by the administrators?
Wearing a dress based on the confederate battle flag is not free speech, it is incitement. For a lot of people, the flag represents slavery, etc... and to wear it would intentionally upset a lot of people.
Love it!! Really cool............
The north had more slaves per household than the south. Incitement????????? B.S.
No....that's her boyfriend. He's a sophomore.....
I am not arguing over slavery or the civil war. Nowadays if you are a principal you Cover Your Ass.
Well since the Confederate flag is not a 'representation of slavery', to back down from your principles in the face of adversity, is nothing more than surrendering to the will of others.
And since you say the Confederate Flag is a 'representation of slavery', then, since the "north" also owned slaves ,before and AFTER the civil war, why is the American flag considered a 'representation of slavery'?
"why is the American flag considered a 'representation of slavery'? "
Sorry!
should have read 'why ISN'T the American flag'.
If he allowed her to wear it, the headline would be 'Principal let girl wear offensive dress' and the NAACP would be suing the school district.
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