Pro-Life T-Shirt Day Results in Suppression of Free Speech

ANN ARBOR, MI -April 28th was designated "National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day," and many students across the country proudly wore their shirts to school, expressing their opposition to abortion. However, despite a student's clearly established constitutional right to express his or her views in this manner, some students were denied this right, so they sought the assistance of the Thomas More Law Center, a national public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Attorneys for the Law Center sent demand letters to offending school officials in New Hampshire and Michigan, outlining the law in this area. These demand letters had the desired effect: the students were allowed to express their pro-life message free from harassment.

In New Hampshire, a high school freshman was told that her "abortion is homicide" shirt was offensive to some students and faculty and so school officials threatened her with suspension should she not find a more "positive" way of expressing her beliefs. This same school, however, actively promoted just weeks earlier the pro-homosexual "National Day of Silence," where students and teachers expressed their pro-homosexual views by wearing rainbow ribbons during school. School officials apparently did not find this politically correct view "offensive." Shortly after the Thomas More Law Center got involved, school officials agreed that the student had a right to wear her pro-life shirt, even if they didn't like it. The student proudly wore her shirt this past Monday and says that she will continue to wear it to make her point.

In Big Rapids, Michigan, a junior honor roll student was similarly warned that her pro-life t-shirt was "offensive" to students, and school officials gave her the choice of changing her shirt or going home. The student chose to go home. The student then contacted the Law Center because she wanted to wear her shirt on "National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day." Law Center attorney Edward L. White III sent a letter to the principal of this Michigan high school, and, as a result, the student returned to school with her pro-life shirt this past Monday. According to Mr. White, "We are pleased that our client was free to wear her pro-life shirt to school on Monday without any further interference from the school. Wearing the shirt on that day and expressing her pro-life views was very important to this student."

Robert Muise, associate counsel with the Thomas More Law Center handling the New Hampshire case, commented, "The political correctness police are out in full force in the public schools across this nation, seeking to suppress ideas and messages that they oppose. What is most disturbing about the New Hampshire case is that our client's brother is presently serving in Iraq with the U.S. Marines. I wonder what he and the other servicemen fighting to free the Iraqi people from tyranny would think about the way in which his younger sister was treated here in the United States. I doubt they would approve of it."

The Thomas More Law Center, a national, public interest law firm based in Ann Arbor, Michigan, defends and promotes the religious freedom of Christians, time-honored family values, and the sanctity of human life through education, litigation, and related activities. It does not charge for its services. You may reach the Thomas More Law Center at (734) 827-2001 or visit our website at www.thomasmore.org