The mother and father of a ninth grader in South Carolina are suing after their daughter was allegedly accosted for not saying the Pledge of Allegiance whereas she was strolling to class as a substitute of stopping to recite it.
Marissa Barnwell, the scholar, mentioned throughout a information convention on Thursday that she was strolling quietly to her class at River Bluff Excessive Faculty in Lexington, South Carolina and determined to not cease strolling to recite the pledge or a second of silence.
A trainer on the faculty allegedly yelled at her, confronted her, and pushed her in opposition to a wall close by.
“I used to be simply in disbelief,” Barnwell mentioned, recalling that she instructed the trainer “Get your palms off of me.”
Barnwell, who’s 15 years previous, was despatched to the principal’s workplace afterward, which she described as humiliating as a result of she thought she was in bother.
After the assembly, the principal despatched Barnwell again to class, however didn’t let her know that the trainer was improper for accosting her and pushing her right into a wall for not stopping to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I used to be fully and totally disrespected,” Barnwell mentioned, in keeping with The State newspaper. “Nobody has apologized, nobody has acknowledged my harm. … The truth that the college is defending that sort of habits is unimaginable.”
After the assembly, the principal despatched Barnwell again to class, however didn’t let her know that the trainer was improper for accosting her and pushing her right into a wall for not stopping to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
“I used to be fully and totally disrespected,” Barnwell mentioned, in keeping with The State newspaper. “Nobody has apologized, nobody has acknowledged my harm. … The truth that the college is defending that sort of habits is unimaginable.”
Barnwell’s mother and father have filed a lawsuit in opposition to the River Bluff Excessive Faculty trainer, principal, Lexington Faculty District 1, in addition to the South Carolina Training Division in federal courtroom, stating that their daughter’s First Modification and civil rights had been violated.
The South Carolina legislature handed a regulation over 30 years in the past requiring colleges within the state to play the Pledge of Allegiance at a sure time every day, but in addition prohibits punishment for college kids who refuse to recite the pledge, given they don’t seem to be being disruptive.
Tyler Bailey, the household’s lawyer, mentioned that college students ought to be capable to train their constitutional rights.
“The factor that’s lovely about America is we have now freedoms,” Bailey mentioned. “College students in our colleges ought to really feel protected, they shouldn’t be really feel threatened for exercising their constitutional rights.”
Lexington Faculty District 1 mentioned in a press release that its lawyer is writing a response to the lawsuit, however didn’t present further remark.
The trainer and principal allegedly concerned within the incident are nonetheless employed on the faculty, in keeping with its web site.
