A T-Shirt and Free Speech

[Thanks to Sir Real for the link!]
Aug 31
Montpelier, Vermont
It's a free speech victory for a Williamstown teenager. A federal appeals court ruled Williamstown school officials violated his rights -- when they censored an anti-Bush T-shirt. The school made Zach Guiles remove the T-shirt because it included pictures of drugs and alcohol--a violation of the school's dress code.

The Vermont Chapter of the American Civil Liberties called the ruling a victory for free speech. But they downplayed suggestions the decision will give students the freedom to wear anything they want to school. "The judges in this appeal were very careful to state that their decision applies to this case and these circumstances so I don't think it is fair to say that all dress codes are out the window that was not the point of the judges decision...they made the decision on the facts of this case," said Allen Gilbert of the Vermont Chapter of the American Civil Liberties Union. Because the images on the shirt were part of a political message the appeals court ruled that it was protected free speech.