Censored Conservative Student Responds with Lawsuit Against His School
by Jim Brown
May 24, 2005
(AgapePress) - A lawsuit alleges a Massachusetts high school targeted a conservative extra-curricular club for discrimination because of its right-leaning political views.
Senior Chris Bowler has filed a lawsuit alleging Hudson High School violated his First Amendment rights when it removed seven of ten posters advertising his Conservative Club throughout the school. Bowler had formed the club after feeling classroom discussions had become anti-American in nature and needed conservative, pro-American balance. In one class, he says, President Bush was accused of being a deserter -- and in another, a picture of Bush being burned in effigy was shown.
Bowler's attorney, John Whitehead with The Rutherford Institute, says the school needs to abide by its commitment to free speech.
"Clearly, I think it's hypocritical -- it's a double-standard," Whitehead states. "It's a school that has a particular viewpoint. Obviously the people high up in the school, the school officials, have that viewpoint. They want to make sure that students hear one viewpoint. And the thing about Chris Bowler's conservative club is he was giving another viewpoint, and obviously they didn't like it."
The attorney explains that legal precedence favors his client in what he calls a "very solid First Amendment case."
"I think if the court determines that this was really discrimination based on political viewpoint -- and [if] the court agrees with us -- we can win the case," he says. "Generally courts have [agreed on this]. Your more liberal judges tend to side with cases like this; conservative judges, to be honest with you, are a little more difficult."
Hudson High School claims the censored posters were "anti-gay" and promoted violence, but Whitehead contends the posters merely advocated traditional values. The suit is asking the court to rule that school officials violated Bowler's constitutional rights and to order the school to allow the Conservative Club posters to be displayed without censorship.
Jim Brown, a regular contributor to AgapePress, is a reporter for American Family Radio News, which can be heard online.
