Student sues school for banning “Jesus Loves Me” mask

Thursday, November 5, 2020 : By Nathan Skates Falkirkcemter.com

Quick Facts:

• A Mississippi school district banned a third-grade student from wearing a mask that said “Jesus Loves Me.”
• Alliance Defending Freedom has filed a lawsuit on behalf of the student for violating the student’s First Amendment rights.
• The school district claims that it does not discriminate and it is district policy to prohibit masks with political or religious expressions.

Attorneys claim: , “Defendants allow students at SCS to wear masks and other clothing with a wide variety of expressive messages during school, including ‘Black Lives Matter’ and masks and shirts promoting many sports teams.”

ADF Legal Counsel Michael Ross said:

“Public schools have a duty to respect the free expression of students that the First Amendment guarantees to them. While school administrators face challenges in helping students navigate school life during a pandemic, those officials simply can’t suspend the First Amendment or arbitrarily pick and choose the messages that students can or can’t express. Other students within the school district have freely worn masks with the logos of local sports teams or even the words ‘Black Lives Matter.’ This student deserves an equal opportunity to peacefully express her beliefs.”

Simpson School responded: the bottom line, school district’s superintendent Greg Paes Wrote is that the Policy relates to masks, not other garb that may have political or religious logos.