Posted on 01/07/2010 6:51:47 AM PST by NorCoGOP
LITTLETON — A Colorado high school student who was arrested in 2008 for wearing a “Nobama” sticker outside a campaign appearance by Michelle Obama has won a settlement from the school.
Blake Beeson was handcuffed and arrested for interference the day before the presidential election, when Michelle Obama visited Dakota Ridge High School to campaign for her husband.
Beeson and two other students stood outside the gym where the future first lady was speaking and held campaign signs for Sen. John McCain, the Republican candidate.
School officials told Beeson to leave. He refused and was arrested and suspended from school for a day.
The American Civil Liberties Union of Colorado announced Wednesday that Jefferson County Schools and the county sheriff's department would pay Beeson $4,000 to avoid a lawsuit. Authorities dropped criminal charges against him in May.
“Jefferson County officials were wrong to censor the peaceful, purely political speech of a high school student just a day before a historic national election,” ACLU staff attorney Taylor Pendergrass said in a statement.
Beeson said he hoped the settlement would promote student activism.
“If one thing comes from this case, I hope it is that other students will learn more about their free-speech rights and not be afraid to use them,” Benson said.
Jefferson County sheriff's spokeswoman Jacki Kelley told The Denver Post that the arrest caused an internal investigation and that “lessons were learned from the investigation.”
1) Good for him
2) Good for the ACLU (so, if your counting, ACLU Good Deeds 1, ACLU Bad Deed 19,098,123).
So, where are the criminal charges against the authorities under 18 USC 242? A mere lawsuit or ‘settlement’ is a weak, weak response.
Some people think to question this administration is “racist” and “unpatriotic”. Seems the NEA is of this mindset. Wonder how the NEA votes? Campaign appearances at high schools is approved - dissent at high school campaign apperances is verboten. Nice little NEA NAZIs.
Did they learn how to fire the idiots responsible for it? I hope the school had a similar teaching moment for whatever faculty and administration would cause the arrest of someone who expressed support for a political candidate.
$4,000 to avoid a lawsuit?
Hell no.
I would have sued for enough to cover my remaining HS years at the finest private prep school in the country.
What a crock settlement.
I find this to be a curious statement.
I wonder what it was that they learned?
Could it be that they learned that a student who has every right to be on public property has the right to peacefully express his political opinion?
Or, maybe they learned that the public school system in nothing more than an infestation of Marxist ideologues that act in accordance with their Democrat master's wishes to suppress political opposition?
I wonder what they learned.
Thats what I say. I am kinda shocked.
A white kid too. I am surprised they even took the case in the beginning.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO DEBATE AND DISAGREE WITH ANY ADMINISTRATION
I’ll tell you what, it would be a cold day in hell before the FReeper would allow the ACLU to represent him on any matter.
This organization was founded in 1919 to defend members of the newly formed U.S. Communist Party - the scum of the earth!
The acorn doesn’t fall far from the tree.
This kind of thing isn't taken as the serious offense it is against our rights and freedoms as Americans.
I would have ridden a lawsuit straight to hell before I accepted 4k for what was done to me in this case, not to mention someone needs to be in jail for what they did to this kid.
I hope that kid spends every dime of that settlement on crank to sell to his Obamite classmates.
wearing a tee-shirt and carrying a sign, the day before her appearance is “interference”??? huh???
Not even a stupid judge could fall for that.
“I would have ridden a lawsuit straight to hell before I accepted 4k for what was done to me in this case, not to mention someone needs to be in jail for what they did to this kid. “
Damned right! If this kid had an attorney the attorney should be disbarred for incompetence.
A huge settlement is in order and everyone involved in the arrest should be fired.
there goes the shutout..
A. The school would NEVER have allowed a McCain rally.
B. If they DID allow a McCain rally, and the protesters were holding Obama signs, they would NEVER have been arrested.
c. If they were holding Obama signs and DID get arrested, they would have gotten $4 MILLION dollars.
Parents looking for a quick buck?
yeah......4k probably went to the lawyer.
WE HAVE A RIGHT TO DEBATE AND DISAGREE WITH ANY ADMINISTRATION
You are close. Make that a little louder and a bit more shrill.
On the bright side, maybe the kid will run for office!
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