Thousands of students across the country are planning and participating in walkouts in solidarity with survivors of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School.
ACLU is hosting a #KnowYourRights training in the wake of some school officials threatening students who plan to participate in walkouts, like this now-deleted post by a Texas public school district superintendent.
Many colleges and universities are tweeting supportive messages, saying they won’t penalize incoming students who participate in walkouts and protest.
Planning to join the #NationalSchoolWalkout or #MarchForOurLives? Here’s what you should know about your rights as a student.
#KnowYourRights: If you miss class for a protest, your school can punish you, but not more harshly than if you were missing class for any other reason.
#KnowYourRights: Your right to freedom of speech doesn't stop once you enter school doors. You can advocate for your cause at school, as long as it’s not considered disruptive.
#KnowYourRights: You can wear political clothing, so long as it doesn’t break existing school dress code rules.
#KnowYourRights: Standards for discipline and other rules may differ based on state, district, and your own school’s policies. Check them out just to be safe.
This interactive map lets you browse school discipline laws by state.
safesupportivelearning.ed.gov/school-discipl…
#KnowYourRights: Your school can’t punish you for political action you take on your own time, outside of school.
#KnowYourRights: You have the right to be represented by a lawyer if you’re facing a 10-day suspension or more. And in some states, the same is true for shorter suspensions.
#KnowYourRights: No matter your cause, your First Amendment rights are protected at school. You have another student named Mary Beth Tinker to thank for that.
Still have questions? The @ACLU’s Vera Eidleman is hosting a training tonight 8 pm EST with the hashtag #KnowYourRights. You can check that out here:
@ACLU Planned marches & walkouts for students:
• March 14: @WomensMarchY’s 17-minute school walkout
• March 24: @AMarch4OurLives’s #MarchForOurLives
• April 20: @schoolwalkoutUS’s #NationalSchoolWalkout
Are you planning to join the #MarchForOurLives or other protests and walkouts? Let us know.
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