Constance McMillen sues school for suppressing free speech, makes top 5 on Google Trends
The American Civil Liberties Union of Mississippi today filed suit in federal court against the Itawamba County School System, which canceled the prom for one of its high schools when a student challenged a ban on bringing same-sex dates.
The federal suit asks the court to force the school board to reinstate the prom and alleges district officials have violated the First Amendment rights of Constance McMillen, a senior at Itawamba Agricultural High School.
“It’s shameful and cowardly of the school district to have canceled the prom and to try to blame Constance, who’s only standing up for herself,” said Christine Sun, an attorney with the ACLU national LGBT Project. “We will fight tooth and nail for the prom to be reinstated for all students.”
The school board met Wednesday and announced it was canceling the prom after McMillen challenged the same-sex date ban. The Mississippi ACLU, which is assisting McMillen, gave the district until Wednesday to change its policy.
Clarion Ledger
3/11/10
Magnolia Tribune
