American Civil Liberties Union

Student Rights:
Constitutional violations are far too common in public schools across the country. Teachers and administrators have a responsibility to provide a safe environment for the students that is conducive to learning. They also have a responsibility to respect each student's individual rights. Simply put, students have rights too. Learn more and take action to protect the rights guaranteed to all Americans.


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Student Rights : Freedom of Expression : Press Releases

Following ACLU Action, University of California Ends Ban on Political Protest Abroad (01/25/2005)
LOS ANGELES - Under pressure from the American Civil Liberties Union of Southern California, the University of California announced that it will no longer tell students studying abroad that they are prevented from participating in political demonstrations, the ACLU said today.

ACLU Defends Utah High School Students Censored for Wearing Gay-Themed Anti-Smoking T-Shirts (05/11/2004)
SALT LAKE CITY - The American Civil Liberties Union today came to the defense of a group of Utah high school students who were punished for wearing ""Queers Kick Ash"" t-shirts to school. School officials also threatened to ban the school's gay-straight alliance, and dozens of students are planning to wear the t-shirts today in protest.

After ACLU Intervention on Behalf of Christian Valedictorian, Michigan High School Agrees to Stop Censoring Religious Yearbook Entries (05/11/2004)
DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today announced an out-of-court settlement between the Utica Community School District and a local student over the censorship of her 2001 yearbook entry. The student's entry had been deleted from the yearbook because it contained a passage from the Bible.

Michigan School Reverses Student's Suspension For Wearing "Anarchy" T-Shirt (05/10/2004)
DETROIT - Officials with Bay City Schools have changed their minds about suspending a high school student for wearing a t-shirt with an anarchy symbol, after the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan appealed the suspension, the ACLU announced today.

ACLU of Ohio Urges School to Rescind Punishment for Student Who Criticized School in Off-Campus Postings (05/06/2004)
CLEVELAND -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio today sent a letter to Lancaster City Schools' Interim Superintendent on behalf of the family of a student who was suspended and is currently being expelled for creating a website that skewers school administrators and staff. The website was created and maintained off school grounds, using no school resources.

ACLU Wins Settlement for New Mexico Teachers Punished for Posting Anti-War Materials (11/14/2003)
ALBUQUERQUE -- The American Civil Liberties Union of New Mexico today announced the settlement of a civil rights lawsuit against the Albuquerque Public Schools for disciplinary actions taken against teachers and a counselor for posting materials related to the U.S. invasion of Iraq.

Judge Rules in Favor of Michigan Student's Right to Wear Anti-War T-Shirt to School (10/01/2003)
DETROIT - In a victory for students' free speech rights, a federal judge has ruled that the Dearborn teenager who was prohibited from wearing a t-shirt with a picture of President Bush that reads, "International Terrorist" must be allowed to wear the shirt to school.

After ACLU Intervention, Texas High School Agrees to Reinstate Amnesty International Club (08/07/2003)
SAN ANTONIO - The American Civil Liberties Union today reached an agreement with officials from the San Antonio Independent School District to reinstate Luther Burbank High School's Amnesty International Club, which had been banned in March after some of its members independently took part in a silent demonstration to raise awareness about violence against lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgendered people.

ACLU of Michigan Files Lawsuit on Behalf of High School Student Barred From Wearing Political T-Shirt (03/27/2003)
DETROIT -- Challenging a school's decision to prohibit a student from wearing an anti-war t-shirt, the American Civil Liberties Union of Michigan today filed a lawsuit in federal court against Dearborn Public School officials for violating the First Amendment rights of their students.

University of Maryland Students Seek to Overturn Free Speech Ban at College Park Campus (03/06/2003)
GREENBELT, MD-The American Civil Liberties Union and a private Washington law firm today filed a lawsuit on behalf of students at the University of Maryland at College Park who are challenging a university policy that places unreasonable restrictions on outdoor public speaking and leafleting on the university's 1,500-acre campus.

ACLU Supports MI High School Student Sent Home for Wearing Anti-War T-Shirt (02/25/2003)
DETROIT - The American Civil Liberties Union today said that it is looking into possible litigation on behalf of Bretton Barber, a junior at Dearborn High School who was told to go home if he did not remove a t-shirt with a picture of President Bush between the words "international terrorist."

ACLU of MA Defends Students Punished for Distributing Candy Canes with Religious Messages (02/21/2003)
NORTHAMPTON, MA -- The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today asked a federal district court in Springfield to protect the First Amendment rights of high school students who were disciplined by school officials for distributing candy canes with religious messages just before Christmas.

ACLU of Iowa Challenges State's Flag Desecration Law (12/02/2002)
DES MOINES-The American Civil Liberties Union of Iowa today filed a lawsuit on behalf of two college students here who were prohibited by city and county officials from displaying a United States flag upside down in protest of U.S. government policies.

PA High School Pays $60,000 to Student Who Was Punished for Private Internet Message (11/18/2002)
PITTSBURGH - A local school district has agreed to pay $60,000 in partial settlement of lawsuit brought by a former student who was kicked off the volleyball team because he posted an Internet message criticizing an art teacher, the American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania announced today.

ACLU Raises Concerns About RI School's "Anti-Bullying" Policy (11/13/2002)
PROVIDENCE, R.I. - - Rejecting concerns voiced by the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, the East Providence School Committee last night gave final passage to an overly broad and vague "anti-bullying" policy. The ACLU said it is now considering a legal challenge to the policy.

ACLU Responds to Student Protests Against Kentucky Gay-Straight Alliance (11/07/2002)
NEW YORK - Last week, officials at Boyd County High School in Ashland, Kentucky granted a seven-month-old request by students to start a Gay-Straight Alliance club at the school after the national American Civil Liberties Union and its Kentucky affiliate sent a letter explaining the school's legal obligation under the federal Equal Access Act to let the club form.

Federal Court Finds University of IL Violated Rights of Students and Faculty in Mascot Debate (05/28/2002)
CHICAGO--A federal court today ruled that University of Illinois officials violated the free speech rights of students and faculty when they required ""pre-clearance"" for any statements about the school's controversial use of Native American Chief Illiniwek as a mascot. 

MA High School Settles Free Speech Case; Senior No Longer Banned from Prom and Graduation (05/15/2002)
BOSTON--Facing a lawsuit filed by the American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts, officials from Holliston High School today agreed to end the punishment imposed on Amanda Melanson, a high school senior who displayed a protest sign during the school's annual talent show.

In Letter to UC Berkeley Chancellor, ACLU Opposes Suppression of Pro-Palestinian Student Protest (05/07/2002)
SAN FRANCISCO - The American Civil Liberties Union of Northern California and the University of California at Berkeley's ACLU chapter today sent a letter to the University's Chancellor expressing serious concerns about the school's threat to suspend for an entire year 41 pro-Palestinian student protestors who were arrested for trespass during a sit-in. 

ACLU of MA Sues Holliston School Officials for Punishing Students Over Protest Signs (05/02/2002)
BOSTON--The American Civil Liberties Union of Massachusetts today filed a lawsuit in Middlesex Superior Court on behalf of Amanda Melanson and Elizabeth Cooper, two seniors at Holliston High School who were suspended them from school for two days and banned -- for the rest of the school year --- from all extracurricular activities, including the senior prom and graduation, because they held signs protesting the expulsion of two classmates. 

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