November 7, 2001
The National Lawyers Guild (NLG) stands behind Katie Sierra, and all those who bravely speak out against war. It is during nationalistic times like these that we must honor principles of free speech, and safeguard the right to voice opposition to government policies.
Ms. Sierra was barred from wearing an anarchy t-shirt and from starting a school club because school officials disagreed with her political message. "Schools should not be in the business of silencing political expression. Katie did not try to do anything different from what students do all the time--wear a t-shirt and start a club. The only difference was the political message being conveyed, and the administration is punishing her because of her views," said Ms. Sierra's attorney Roger Forman, an NLG member in Charleston, West Virginia.
They are now appealing to the West Virginia Supreme Court the lower court's refusal to enjoin the school board from infringing on Ms. Sierra's rights. In 1969, the U.S. Supreme Court decided Tinker v. Des Moines, and held that even amid nationwide social upheaval and opposition to the war in Vietnam, school officials could not prohibit students from wearing black armbands in protest. Although NLG members around the country are constantly defending against efforts to step back from principles of free speech for youth activists, especially in schools, it remains fundamental that students may not be silenced simply because their views differ the political orthodoxy of school officials.
"Administrators can take action to prevent actual disruptions in schools, but what we are seeing now, in schools and in the larger communities, is an effort to silence anyone who offers criticism of the government, solely because some people do not like that message," said NLG President Bruce Nestor. "But this country has a long history of groups of people, small at first, speaking out for what they believe. Katie Sierra was following in that proud tradition."
"We know that we are entering a difficult time for political activists, and that there will be similar efforts to silence them," said NLG Executive Director Heidi Boghosian. "But the country needs voices of dissent, and we hope students and others will not be swayed by these efforts to silence Kate Sierra."
National Guild members around the country are committed to defending political speech. The NLG has produced and revised "Know Your Rights" manuals since September 11, designed to assist political activists, which are available on www.nlg.org. Anyone in need of legal assistance is invited to contact the NLG National Office.
The NLG stands behind Ms. Sierra, not only in defending her right to speak out, but also in condemning the illegal bombings of Afghanistan and deaths of innocent civilians, as well as the massive rollback of civil liberties at home under the guise of fighting terrorism. The Guild reaffirms its commitment to its guiding principle, that human rights shall be regarded as more sacred than property interests, by continuing to support the struggles of poor and working people for freedom, justice, education, health care, social security, job security, and a safe environment. The Guild encourages its members to participate in community teach-ins on the mandates of the U.N. Charter and on the right to conscientious objection to participation in war, to represent those seeking peaceful alternatives to war, and to help our nation envision a 21st century free from the violence and retributive approaches of the past.
[posted 11/7/01]
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