SOUTH HADLEY, Mass. (AP) - The American Civil Liberties Union
says the South Hadley School Committee violated the free speech
rights of a parent who wanted to speak about the suicide of a
teenager who killed herself after allegedly being bullied by
classmates.
Luke Gelinas was ruled out of order and escorted out of the
April 14 meeting when he attempted to criticize school officials
about the handling of the Phoebe Prince case.
ACLU lawyer William Newman says he sent a letter to the
committee this month saying cutting Gelinas short was a "clear
violation" of his First Amendment rights.
Gelinas and Newman plan to attend Wednesday's meeting and test
those rights.
The board's chairman says there have been no attempts to
infringe on anyone's free speech.
Six students are facing charges connected to Prince's death.
(Copyright 2010 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
