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COLUMBIA, S.C. — The dad and mom of a ninth grade South Carolina pupil who stated she was accosted by a trainer for quietly strolling to class as an alternative of stopping and reciting the Pledge of Allegiance are suing the trainer, principal, faculty district and state training officers.
Marissa Barnwell stated she was strolling quietly to class and determined to not cease for the pledge or a second of silence that adopted. A trainer yelled at her, confronted her and pushed her towards a wall.
Barnwell was then despatched to the principal’s workplace, which she stated was humiliating as a result of she feared she was in hassle. The principal promised to take a look at the video of the encounter and despatched her again to class, however Barnwell stated he by no means let her know that the trainer was unsuitable and he or she was proper.
“I used to be utterly and totally disrespected,” Barnwell, 15, stated at a information convention Thursday, in keeping with The State newspaper. “Nobody has apologized, nobody has acknowledged my harm. … The truth that the college is defending that form of conduct is unimaginable.”
Barnwell’s dad and mom are suing the River Bluff Excessive College trainer, the principal, Lexington College District 1, and the South Carolina Training Division in federal courtroom, saying they violated the woman’s civil rights and her First Modification rights to each free speech or to not converse in any respect.
A state regulation handed greater than 30 years in the past requires public colleges to play the Pledge of Allegiance at a particular time day by day.
However that regulation additionally prohibits punishing anybody who refuses to recite the pledge so long as they don’t seem to be disruptive or infringe on others.
“The factor that’s stunning about America is we now have freedoms,” stated Tyler Bailey, the household’s lawyer. “College students in our colleges ought to really feel protected, they shouldn’t be really feel threatened for exercising their constitutional rights.”
Barnwell stated she referred to as her dad and mom in tears they usually stated the trainer, principal or district by no means responded.
Lexington College District 1 stated its legal professional is engaged on a response to the lawsuit and did not have any further remark. River Bluff Excessive College’s web site signifies the trainer and principal are nonetheless working on the faculty.
Barnwell’s household additionally launched the college surveillance video of the encounter that exhibits the trainer confront the teenager.
“I used to be simply in disbelief,” Barnwell stated, including that she advised the trainer, “Get your palms off of me.”
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