[Mpls] American Legion blackmails Kennedy High School to deprive students of first amendment right to free speech (fwd)

[David Shove]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Wed, 23 Feb 2005 02:49:26 -0600
From: John Slade <jslade at labornet.org>
Subject: American Legion blackmails Kennedy High School to deprive students
    of first amendment right to free speech

An article from Twin Cities Indymedia

by Brandon Madsen
Email: against.war (at) gmail.com (verified)
Phone: 612-804-6839 23 Feb 2005

High school student anti-war activists plan to hold press conference and
demonstration after school today in protest of school administration's
refusal to guarantee free speech

Bloomington, MN Under pressure from the American Legion, the Bloomington
Public Schools Superintendent Gary Prest has banned Kennedy student
anti-war activists from setting up a counter-recruitment table today,
while allowing military recruiters unfettered access to their fellow
students.

For weeks the students in Youth Against War & Racism had been planning
to set up an anti-war information table today (February 23), when the
military recruiters are scheduled to table at Kennedy High. They had
obtained permission and reserved a table. But Tuesday morning their
principal got a visit to his office by representatives from the American
Legion, who informed him that unless he stopped them from tabling, they
would cease donating money to Bloomington Public Schools. Principal
Simmons also got a call from the District Superintendent, who had also
met with the American Legion, who also instructed him to shut down their
organization's action.

This repression of our rights follows months of negotiations with our
Principal to get the right to set up a table. Last December the
Bloomington School District lawyer finally gave his opinion that Youth
Against War & Racism had the right to set up a counter-recruitment
information table when military recruiters came to Kennedy. On December
8th the recruiters came, and their counter-recruitment tabling
commenced. Over 230 students signed their petition against military
recruiters being allowed into Kennedy High in the following days.

Now their Superintendent and Principal are allowing themselves to be
blackmailed by the American Legion. The students are holding a press
conference after school today at 2:30pm, in the Kennedy High lunch room
(9701 Nicollet Ave., Bloomington).

Here are three things you can do TODAY to help:

1. Call the Bloomington Schools Superintendent, Gary Prest
(952-681-6402) and Kennedy High Principal Ronald Simmons (952-681-5050).
Call right now and urge them to respect our free speech rights and to
stand up against the American Legion's blackmail of our school district.

2. Show your support by coming to our after-school protest and teach-in
today at 2:30pm, in the Kennedy High lunch room (9701 Nicollet Ave.,
Bloomington).

3. Forward this solidarity appeal on to your friends, family, and any
email lists you are on.


--fwd David Shove
Roseville