Wednesday, April 13, 2011

PA Court OKs "I Love Boobies" Bracelet in School; ACLU Argued Ban Violated Students' Free Speech

On April 12, 2011 federal judge Mary McLaughlin in the US District Court in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania ruled that the ban imposed by middle school administrators on the rubber wristband did not have case law support allowing school officials to restrict students' speech when it is considered lewd or disruptive.

Consequently, 13-year-old Kayla Martinez wore her "I Love Boobies" bracelet back to school today (April 13), according to the All Voices website.

"The bracelets are intended to be viewed as speech designed to raise awareness of breast cancer and to reduce stigma associated with openly discussing breast health," McLaughlin wrote in her opinion.

Along with Martinez, student Brianna Hawk, and the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Pennsylvania, sued in November 2010, after the pair were threatened with school suspension for refusing to take their bracelets off at school. The ACLU argued that the district's ban violated the students' First Amendment right to free speech.

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