Pro-Life Student Club Suspended by Supreme Court for Planned Parenthood Flyers

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In the small town of Indiana, a dispute broke out regarding high school students’ free speech rights to hang pro-life meeting flyers at their school. When the Supreme Court turned away the free speech case on Monday morning, Justice Samuel Alito dissented from the Supreme Court's decision, noting that the high court should "clarify the relationship between a 1988 decision involving the regulation of school-sponsored activities and its other government-speech decisions.”

In 2021, a freshman identified as E.D. established a Noblesville Students for Life club. Existing among 70 other non-curriculum-based clubs led exclusively by students, the school allows clubs to hang flyers advertising meeting dates, times, and locations, pending school administration approval. According to the school, no “political” or “disruptive” signs are allowed.

E.D. received approval to form the club and met with the assistant principal to vet her “Defund Planned Parenthood” flyers. The flyers were denied, and E.D. was told they should only include the basic meeting details: club name, location, date, and time. E.D. and her mother, Lisa Duell, then met with the dean, who told them the phrase “Defund Planned Parenthood” was prohibited.

Escalating matters into his own hands, the principal then suspended the club approval “because of concerns that it was not student-led and student-driven, given the participation of E.D.'s mother, and because she refused to comply with instructions for meeting flyers. The club was reinstated in 2022 and remained active.”

E.D.’s parents and the club filed a lawsuit against the school as a violation of First Amendment rights. However, the court ruled in favor of the school.

Photo Credit: ©Getty Images/Jemal Countess/Stringer

Amber Ginter is a teacher-turned-author who loves Jesus, her husband Ben, and granola. Growing up Amber looked for faith and mental health resources and found none. Today, she offers hope for young Christians struggling with mental illness that goes beyond simply reading your Bible and praying more. Because you can love Jesus and still suffer from anxiety. You can download her top faith and mental health resources for free to help navigate books, podcasts, videos, and influencers from a faith lens perspective. Visit her website at amberginter.com.