An Indianapolis high school student and her pro-life student club affiliated with Students for Life petitioned the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday to take up their censorship lawsuit.
The student, a client of Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF) and Charitable Allies, said that teachers and school staff at Noblesville High School targeted her personally, including calling her derogatory names on social media over pro-life flyers.
ADF said the principal initially recognized the student club. Such clubs are allowed to hang flyers in common areas. The club sought permission to hang flyers that depicted pro-lifers holding “Defund Planned Parenthood” signs. Officials claimed the flyers were too political, and the principal revoked recognition.
Would they feel the same about signs that read, “Abortion on Demand NOW”?
A lower court and the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Seventh Circuit sided with the school. ADF and Charitable Allies asked the Supreme Court to protect the students’ freedom of speech. From ADF:
“The need for clarity” about protections for student speech, the petition filed with the Supreme Court explains, “is especially acute as public schools and educators increasingly engage in political advocacy and indoctrination, heightening the risk that students who dissent from the prevailing orthodoxy will be censored.”
This is about the fight for life in the womb, and it’s apparent the majority of school officials do not appreciate the message.
“Free speech rights you can’t use don’t exist,” said Kristan Hawkins, president of Students for Life of America. “We are not going to forget about our students’ rights or ignore attempts to silence them, no matter how long it takes.”
