Last June, a high school student by the name of Julius Robinson was shot and killed. Authorities believe it was gang-related, and therefore when a group of students wore shirts to commemorate him, they were suspended.
The school called the police station to see if "RIP Julius" could be interpreted as a gang sign, and then decided to call the students into the office. I find this completely, and utterly absurd. Even if a student was a horrible criminal, he still deserves to be respected upon death. Had students worn "RIP Heath Ledger" shirts after Ledger's death, it is most likely they would have not been suspended.
The article of splc.org states that authorities were not even sure if Robinson was a gang member, however the suspicion was enough to suspend a few of his friends who had no other intention but to remember their lost friend. I find this a horrible violation of first amendment rights. In Tinker v. Des Moines it was established that students do not leave their rights outside when they enter school. The students were simply showing their view on the death of a friend, and they had the right to do so.
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