On March 19th, the Supreme Court will hear a case in which they will be asked to outlaw ALL SPEECH in high schools concerning drugs or drug policy!
The following activities could be banned:
• Writing a paper on the history of drug prohibition.
• Debating marijuana legalization on a debate team.
• Questioning the school’s drug testing policy.
• Anything that could be construed as promoting illegal drugs.
Dozens of students will rally at the Supreme Court to tell the Justices to preserve free speech for students. Will you be one of them?
Background:
In 2002, Juneau-Douglas High School student Joseph Frederick and his friends unfurled a large banner that read "BONG HITS 4 JESUS" as the Olympic Torch passed his high school.
When the principal of the high school asked the students to take down the banner, all complied except Frederick, who asserted his First Amendment rights. Morse grabbed and crumpled the banner and suspended Frederick.
Frederick sued and initially lost, but then won in the 9th Circuit court. The school board has appealed the case to the Supreme Court, led by attorney Kenneth Starr (known primarily to the public for his role as special counsel in the Monica Lewinski case), who is essentially arguing for a drug exception to free speech right in public schools.
Because a ruling against Frederick could effectively ban all speech regarding drugs or drug policy, SSDP submitted an Amicus Curiae brief on behalf of the student (PDF), and plans to rally students at the Supreme Court on March 19th...
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