CINCINNATI– In conjunction with a visit by free speech activist Mary Beth Tinker, the American Civil Liberties Union of Ohio will launch distribution of Students! Know Your Rights, a guide for young people on their rights while in school. The guide will be available for teachers and administrators to add to their classrooms and student libraries so young people can learn about their rights.
As a middle school student, Tinker challenged a suspension handed down by school administrators because she wore a black armband to school to protest the Vietnam War. Her case went to the U.S. Supreme Court, where she won and established that students have a right to express their political beliefs while in school.
ACLU of Ohio Executive Director Christine Link said, “Mary Beth Tinker is the perfect example of a young person who took a stand for her rights and made a difference. We hope the launch of Students! Know Your Rights will empower a new generation of youth and create a better understanding of young people’s rights.”
The guide covers student rights issues such as free speech and expression, religious freedom, discrimination, privacy, search and seizure and disciplinary issues. Print guides are available for no charge by calling 216-472-2220 and may be downloaded on the ACLU of Ohio website.
Mary Beth Tinker will speak in Cincinnati at 7:00 p.m. on Wednesday, April 18 at 7:00 p.m. at the Blue Ash Branch of the Public Library of Cincinnati and Hamilton County, 4911 Cooper Road. She will also speak in Dayton at 7:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 19, 2007 at the University of Dayton School of Law, Room 103, 300 College Park. Both events are free and open to the public and free parking is available.
For more information about Students! Know Your Rights or to RSVP for the Mary Beth Tinker event, please log on to www.acluohio.org or call 216-472-2220
The nonprofit, nonpartisan ACLU of Ohio office is located in Cleveland and has community and campus chapters located throughout the state. There are almost 30,000 ACLU members and supporters in Ohio and more than 500,000 nationwide.
