LEXINGTON, Ky. (Dec. 22) -- A teenager is suing her school district for barring her from the prom last spring because she was wearing a dress styled as a large Confederate battle flag.
The lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court claims the Greenup County district and administrators violated Jacqueline Duty's First Amendment right to free speech and her right to celebrate her heritage at predominantly white Russell High School's prom May 1. She also is suing for defamation, false imprisonment and assault.
"Her only dance for her senior prom was on the sidewalk to a song playing on the radio," said her lawyer, Earl-Ray Neal.
Duty, 19, is seeking actual and punitive damages in excess of $50,000.
She said she worked on the design for the dress for four years, though she acknowledged that some might find the Confederate flag offensive.
"Everyone has their own opinion. But that's not mine," she told reporters outside the courthouse. "I'm proud of where I came from and my background."
Duty, now a college student, said school officials told her before the prom not to wear the dress, but she didn't have another one and decided to see if administrators would change their minds.
According to her lawsuit, she was met outside by two police officers and principal Sean Howard. She said the principal intimidated her by striking the vehicle she was in.
School offices were closed Wednesday. Superintendent Ronnie Back did not immediately respond to a call to his home seeking comment.
The Sons of Confederate Veterans has promised to help pay some of her legal expenses.
------------------------------------------------ This girl is being utterly ridiculous. Wearing a confederate flag is basically an insult. Being proud of your heritage is great. In fact, it's one very cool thing to be. But expressing that pride through a (tacky, crime-to-fashion) sequined dress is simply asking for negative attention.
They told her ahead of time not to wear the dress and she refused and was kicked out of prom, which is reason enough. Does this really violate her right to free speech? I don't think so.
Personally, I would've kicked her out just because the thing was so damn ugly.
quote: However; you guys are saying the displaying of the confederate flag itself is offensive. What's your reasoning for that? I really don't think the confederate flag is equivalent to a swastika. Should the German flag be banned, because of what happened during the holocaust?
I was just replying to: "People have the right to wear what they want, when they want(except in school or to certian work places). " that's why I said the swastika thing. I certainly don't think the German flag should be banned for what happened in the Holocaust.
Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time. - E.B.White
But the fact she was told not to wear the dress shouldn't make it any more right...that's like saying "Well all the Jewish kids were TOLD they couldn't come to the prom, so it's their own fault for being kicked out."
What she should have done is bring a backup dress to change into. That part about "her only senior prom dance was to a radio on the sidewalk" lmao. Idiot. Also, why would you work on a dress for FOUR YEARS? 50k is way too much, at that point she wants money.
However; you guys are saying the displaying of the confederate flag itself is offensive. What's your reasoning for that? I really don't think the confederate flag is equivalent to a swastika. Should the German flag be banned, because of what happened during the holocaust?
"To see the world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour..." -William Blake
quote:People have the right to wear what they want, when they want(except in school or to certian work places).
I disagree, I don't think people should be able to wear whatever they want, I do not think someone should be allowed to wear a swastika(is that how it's spelled?), and if they do they have to deal with the consequences
Democracy is the recurrent suspicion that more than half of the people are right more than half of the time. - E.B.White
Things are getting too out of hand. I mean, she was warned not to wear the dress. She should have had a back-up dress as she claims she didn't have another one to wear when she was warned not to wear that dress.
quote:Originally posted by ICELAND:
Banning her because she displayed it is taking censorship too far. I hope she wins her lawsuit.
She was specifically told before the prom to not wear it and she went and did it anyway. When you do something like that there has to be a punishment involved. She was the one who ruined her prom, not the administrators. And if she wins that case, than it just goes to show how out of hand society in America has gotten.
I have not yet reached my goal, and I am not perfect. But Christ has taken hold of me. So I keep on running and struggling to take hold of the prize. My friends, I don't feel that I have already arrived. But I forget what is behind, and I struggle for wha
I agree with yogore. Who wants to go to prom and have it spoiled all because you wanted to "make a statement"? It's like the kid with a gun in his senior photo. He only did it ti make a statement, but he probably didn't really care-he actually wanted to sue, I swear.
Fifty-thousand dollars. Oh, how I laugh. How the **** do you justify that?
America is too sue-happy.
Anyway, she was told not to wear the dress, and she did anyway. She's just plain stupid if she expected the school officials to change their minds. Eh.
What if what you think is great, really is great, but it's not as great as something greater?
I know there was controversy about displaying it publicly in some southern states this year. But The Civil War wasn't just about slavery, and The Confederacy shouldn't be defined by it's racist ideologies. Neither should the displaying of the confederate flag. Banning her because she displayed it is taking censorship too far. I hope she wins her lawsuit.
"To see the world in a grain of sand, and heaven in a wild flower. Hold infinity in the palm of your hand, and eternity in an hour..." -William Blake
Since the school told her not to wear the dress, then she should of listend, but since she is able to wear what she wants too, when she wants to, I see no problem in it. People have the right to wear what they want, when they want(except in school or to certian work places). I honestly think it would of been ok to wear it, since its what she wanted to wear.
Well, she can now walk back to her trailer and **** her brother, and her KKK group is likely now planning the murders of the "Non-Americans". Then she'll square dance in teared overalls and marry her brother, likely named Bubba.
And the thing IS so damn ugly.
"Regardless, I have always, and will always, succeed."
well if a black girl would be kicked out for wearing a shirt with a clenched fist in the air(black power symbol the same as a burning cross) then i'm ok with it
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