New Jersey Student Stopped From Joining National Pro-Life Event Against Abortion
by Steven Ertelt
LifeNews.com Editor
November 16, 2009
Camden, NJ (LifeNews.com) — A New Jersey student who was prevented from participating in a national event along with hundreds of thousands of her peers now has legal representation from a pro-life law group. The Alliance Defense Fund has come to the defense of the unnamed Camden student.
Attorneys with ADF filed a lawsuit Friday on behalf of a student against the Bridgeton Board of Education after officials at Bridgeton High School prohibited her from expressing her pro-life views.
The student hoped to participate in the 6th annual Pro-life Day of Silent Solidarity, which took place this past October.
The student was prohibited from participating in the Stand True Ministries-sponsored event by distributing pro-life literature during non-instructional times.
She also wanted to wear a red armband with the word “LIFE” written on it, but school officials told the student that nothing “religious” is allowed in public schools.
“Pro-life students shouldn’t be discriminated against for expressing their beliefs,” said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman.
“The Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity is a non-disruptive, student-led event occurring outside of instructional time," he told LifeNews.com. "The event provides the opportunity for students to exercise their constitutional right to express their viewpoint on abortion, just as other students have the right to express their views.”
“Cumberland County has the highest rate of teen pregnancies in the state of New Jersey, yet Bridgeton High School censors students’ pro-life speech opposing abortion,” Cortman added.
“Government-run schools say that students need to be educated on these issues, but many times they only want to allow one side to be presented," he said.
Michael W. Kiernan of Marlton is serving as local counsel in the lawsuit, C.H. v. Bridgeton Board of Education, filed with the U.S. District Court for the District of New Jersey.
Related web sites:
ADF – https://www.alliancedefensefund.org
Silent Day – https://www.silentday.org
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