WASHINGTON, D.C. – The ACLU is offering guidance to students who want to stage a protest against guns by walking out of school.
“Students: Know Your Rights!” the ACLU urged in a statement they released this weekend.
They point to “last week’s heartbreaking school shooting in Parkland, Florida” that has caused students around the country to “push for change” and speak their minds “on the streets and the internet … this is an incredible example of what people power looks like – what the First Amendment feels like in practice.”
According to a statement from the ACLU:
“In the past few days, we’ve heard from students, parents, and teachers asking what students’ rights are – and whether schools can discipline students for speaking out.
“Plans for coordinated student walkouts have been making national news and have already spurred disciplinary threats from some school administrators. That’s why we think it’s so important that everyone learns about their rights.”
The ACLU is offering “training” for young people, parents, teachers, school staff and others called “Students: Know Your Rights” on March 1 at 7 PM Central Time through its “People Power” website. They say, “you will hear from student leaders and members of the ACLU legal team, like me, on our constitutional right to free speech and expression, and what it means for students who want to speak out. We’ll also share some details on how to report any possible First Amendment violations so that our team can track what’s going on around the country.”
Last week, a student walk-out was held in Iowa City to protest gun violence. Hundreds of students reportedly participated.
