New York School District Sued for Its Treatment of Pro Life Students

A large upstate New York school district has become the third United States School district to be sued in the past two weeks by the pro-family legal defense organization, Alliance Defense Fund (ADF), for its alleged censorship of Pro Life views. Allegedly, a middle school student was told he had to turn his pro life shirt inside out and to stop distributing flyers to fellow students that discussed the dangers of abortion.

The ADF has sued three schools in the past two weeks, including the most recent suit against Shenendehowa Central, one of the largest school districts in upstate New York. The complaint was filed against the district and the school's principal. The complaint claims the student was denied the chance to express pro life views during the national Pro Life of Solidarity. The event was organized by the Stand True ministry.

"Students don't shed their rights at the schoolhouse door," ADF attorney Tom Marcelle said on the website, www.worldnetdaily.com. Marcelle is co-counsel in the lawsuit. "The Supreme Court has said on more than one occasion that the First Ammendment applies to students." Marcelle added that students may participate in such speech as long as it is not "respectful and not disruptive."

About 1,400 high school and middle school students participated in the pro life event of silence. Some wore pro life shirts, others passed out leaflets between classes. Some wore duct tape over their mouth, with the word, "Life," written on the tape.

The mother of a 13-year-old boy at Gowana Middle School in Cliffton Park, New York, told the principal more than a week before the event that her son planned to distribute leaflets, containing text that advocated against abortion, wear a t-shirt with a pro life message, and wear the duct tape. The boy even reportedly obtained permission from each of his teachers to participate in the event.

On the morning of the event, other students decided to join the boy in peaceful protest.