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Does Free Speech Include T-Shirts?

2002-MAY-29: MI:

Students ordered to not wear pro-life T-shirts: The principal at Houghton Lake High School in Michigan ordered two students to not wear pro-life shirts. They carried messages like "Abortion is Mean" and "Abortion is Homicide." The reason given is that the slogans might offend someone. Attorney Ed White from the Thomas More Law Center said: "At the same school, kids walk around with other shirts that advertise all different types of clothing companies, sports teams, Playboy Bunny symbols...One kid even has a shirt with the pictures - no nudity - with photographs of Playboy models on it. So those students are allowed to express their messages, but these pro-life students are not....This is one of many, many cases we have had during this past year where it’s always if you have a pro-life expression on your shirt, that is met with disapproval by the administration. But other messages - and it can be everything as sensitive as a Playboy model or 'Grab her booty and pinch,' which one kid has [on his shirt] - and its okay." White has written to the school, explaining about free-speech rights.