Alliance Defense Fund Attorneys Help Secure Free Speech For NC Pro-Life Student

The ADF reports that officials "at Randelman High School have responded positively to a letter sent by attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund on behalf of a student whose pro-life message had been censored. The student, Brianna Cardwell, was participating in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity sponsored by Stand True Ministries. 'Pro-life students shouldn’t be punished for expressing their beliefs,' said ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman. 'Brianna was simply exercising her constitutionally protected right to free speech but was censored by school officials fearful of urban legends regarding the so-called ‘separation of church and state.’ In reality, silencing pro-life students simply because they want to exercise their First Amendment rights in a non-disruptive manner is unconstitutional.' On Oct. 20, Cardwell wore a T-shirt with the word 'abortion' crossed out. She also passed out fliers during non-instructional time to her classmates that explained her pro-life views. The assistant principal told her that she could no longer distribute the fliers and would have to keep her jacket on to cover up her T-shirt. She also confiscated the fliers and said that Cardwell’s T-shirt and fliers were 'offensive' and violated the 'separation of church and state.' When Brianna tried to get her fliers back the next day, school officials refused. The assistant principal responded to a Nov. 24 letter from ADF by giving the fliers back to Cardwell and telling her that she would be able to wear her T-shirt and distribute the fliers in the future." Tweet