Pro-life students peacefully band together to silence abortion
Alliance Defending Freedom ready to defend participants in 9th annual Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity
Monday, Oct 15, 2012
Attorney sound bite: Jeremy Tedesco
SCOTTSDALE, Ariz. — Alliance Defending Freedom is offering free legal assistance to public school students who participate in the Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity if their First Amendment freedoms aren’t respected. The event, being held on Tuesday, October 16, at schools across the U.S., offers pro-life students an opportunity to express their views on abortion.
“Public schools should encourage, not shut down, the free exchange of ideas,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco. “Alliance Defending Freedom has more than 2,200 allied attorneys nationwide who are ready to defend any students participating in this event who have their constitutionally protected rights violated on campus. Under the First Amendment, these students are free to express their views on abortion just as other students have the freedom to express their views on the same and other topics.”
The Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity is a non-disruptive, student-led event occurring outside of instructional time.
Alliance Defending Freedom has published a legal memo informing students of their freedom under the First Amendment to peacefully express themselves on public school campuses to promote awareness about the dangers, as well as the physical and emotional toll, of abortion. Alliance Defending Freedom has successfully defended students whom public school officials have barred from participating in the event in past years.
“Students retain their First Amendment liberties while on campus,” the legal memo states. “The Supreme Court has rightfully pointed out that ‘[i]t can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.’”
The Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity is sponsored by Stand True Ministries, a pro-life youth organization led by President Bryan Kemper.
“Public schools should encourage, not shut down, the free exchange of ideas,” said Alliance Defending Freedom Legal Counsel Jeremy Tedesco. “Alliance Defending Freedom has more than 2,200 allied attorneys nationwide who are ready to defend any students participating in this event who have their constitutionally protected rights violated on campus. Under the First Amendment, these students are free to express their views on abortion just as other students have the freedom to express their views on the same and other topics.”
The Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity is a non-disruptive, student-led event occurring outside of instructional time.
Alliance Defending Freedom has published a legal memo informing students of their freedom under the First Amendment to peacefully express themselves on public school campuses to promote awareness about the dangers, as well as the physical and emotional toll, of abortion. Alliance Defending Freedom has successfully defended students whom public school officials have barred from participating in the event in past years.
“Students retain their First Amendment liberties while on campus,” the legal memo states. “The Supreme Court has rightfully pointed out that ‘[i]t can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate.’”
The Pro-Life Day of Silent Solidarity is sponsored by Stand True Ministries, a pro-life youth organization led by President Bryan Kemper.
- Pronunciation guide: Tedesco (Tuh-DESS’-ko)
Alliance Defending Freedom (formerly Alliance Defense Fund) is an alliance-building legal ministry that advocates for the right of people to freely live out their faith.
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