Students stand up for their First Amendment rights

Every year, the MCLU runs Bill of Rights Conferences for high school students across the state to educate them about their 1^st, 4^th, and 14^th amendment rights. Some students are well aware of their constitutional rights, but most are surprised just how powerful their constitutional rights can be, and are impressed by stories of students who have stood up for their rights.

This year, two stories emerged that can be added to the docket of students standing up for their first amendment rights.

First is 10 year old Will Phillips of Arkansas. Will refused to stand for the pledge of allegiance in his class because, when considering the insufficient rights of gays and lesbians in our country, he said: “I really don't feel that there's currently liberty and justice for all.” Will’s substitute teacher repeatedly pressured him to stand for the pledge and tried to intimidate him by mentioning that she knew members of his family, finally causing Will to speak up against her and then be sent to the Principal’s office. Will still refuses to stand for the pledge of allegiance, in spite of the taunting and harassment from classmates that have followed his protest. When he was interviewed by the Arkansas Times and asked “What does being an American mean?” Will responded to the reporter: “Freedom of speech,” Will says, without even stopping to think. “The freedom to disagree. That's what I think pretty much being an American represents.” 

Another student who stood up for her rights is a 17 year old student at Lebanon High School in Indiana, who in March sued her high school for denying her the right to wear a tuxedo to her prom.  The school touted a gender biased dress code that “Men wear tuxedos and women wear formal dresses.” The ACLU of Indiana represented the student, who “said in court filings that she doesn't wear dresses because she sees them as expressing a sexual identity she doesn't embrace.” Ultimately, the school reversed its decision and announced that "School policy for this year's prom will be that all attendees shall wear appropriate formal attire with no gender-based attire requirements imposed. Female students will be permitted to wear tuxedos if they chose."

The more you know about your rights, the more you can stand up for them. If you are a teacher interested in having your students participate in a Bill of Rights conference, let us know at [email protected]