A Study of the Black Lives Matter Social Movement Essay Example

plastic buttons attached to their hoodies displaying "BLACK LIVES MATTER."

We understand that the students wore these buttons in support and it should not be assumed that they violated the dress code to provoke a reaction from the student body, teachers, and officials. There were no instances of students expressing their views, engaging in discussions, or displaying any behavior that teachers and school officials would consider inappropriate. The two students did not cause any disruptions, engage in violence, or create any disturbances, unlike the situation in the case of Blackwell v. Issaquena County Board of Education, 1966, where the petitioners harassed students who chose not to wear freedom buttons.

They did not gather, initiate or pressure anyone to listen to their views or beliefs but instead utilized visual symbolism. However, Justice Harlan previously established that "state public school authorities, in the discharge of their responsibilities, are not wholly exempt from the requirements of the Fourteenth Amendment respecting the freedoms of expression and association" Tinker v. Des Moines, 1969. Therefore, in the situation of high school students Washington and Schultz, the same ruling should be applied as in the court case of 1969.

If students are unable to exercise their rights without causing harm, threat or disturbance to the learning environment, then those opposing student rights are not truly abiding by the U.S. Constitution's Bill of Rights. I have reached a final conclusion and believe that Margery Washington and David Schultz, sophomore students at Homewood High School, are not at fault. The students peacefully and with minimal disruption exercised their constitutional right to freedom of speech. I find District 299 officials guilty of unjustly suspending Washington and Schultz.