Last week, a Mont Pleasant middle school student found herself in some trouble after wearing a handmade red, white, and blue necklace to class. A lawsuit has been filed by her mother alleging her daughter’s freedom of expression was violated by local school officials.
According to the suit, Raven Furbert received the string-it-yourself bead set as a Christmas gift and made the red, white, and blue necklace to symbolize her love of country and respect for soldiers in Iraq. Those include her uncle, a member of the Army National Guard’s 42nd Rainbow division, and three other close relatives.
Schenectady school officials allege in court papers that the jewelry was “gang related” and violated school policy. Furthermore, they have barred Furbert from wearing them under or over her clothing under penalty of suspension.
Furbert and her parents will appear June 15 before US Magistrate Judge David Homer, and are seeking a change of dress code rules, monetary damages, and a declaratory judgment against the school district.
