Two Michigan students sue school district for banning them from wearing Let’s Go Brandon tops over claims rule breaches their right to free speech – and say it’s no different to classmates in pride clothing
- Attorney says schools cannot ‘pick and choose’ which beliefs are okay to express
- School argues the decision was based on the ‘vulgarity’ of the language implied
Two students from Michigan are suing their school district for banning them from wearing sweatshirts to class featuring an anti-Biden political slogan.
The anonymous young people were said to have worn “Let’s Go Brandon” sweatshirts to Tri County Middle School in Howard City last year, when an assistant principal and teacher made them remove the tops.
Attorney Conor Fitzpatrick, speaking on behalf of the anonymous students of the Tri County Area Schools, argued that ‘criticism of the president is core political speech protected by the First Amendment.
‘Whether it’s a Biden sticker, Let’s Go Brandon sweatshirt, or gay pride T-shirt, schools can’t pick and choose which political beliefs students can express.’
A sweatshirt printed with “Let’s Go Brandon”, like the ones the school is accused of banning
Tri County Middle School allegedly banned the wearing of tops with ‘vulgar’ language
A lawsuit brought by the boys’ mother trough Fitzpatrick against the Tri County Area Schools on Tuesday says the assistant principal decried the language implied in the slogan, saying ‘his sweatshirt was equivalent to the F word’.
In a letter dated 9 June 2022, an attorney for the schools stressed that the shirts were not allowed because the district ‘prohibits clothing or styles of expression that are vulgar or profane’.
Clark Hill attorney Kara T. Rozin added in the letter: ‘The commonly known meaning of the slogan “Let’s Go Brandon” is intended to ridicule the president with profanity.
‘At least one of the students … has acknowledged knowing what this slogan means.’
The lawsuit challenges the school district’s claims that ‘despite prohibiting “Let’s Go Brandon” apparel, the school district permits students to wear apparel expressing other political and social messages, including but not limited to apparel expressing support for LGBTQ+ rights.’
It argues that the sweatshirt did not ‘disrupt class, cause disturbance among students, or invade the rights of others’, saying the school has ‘[censored] the students’ peaceful, non-disruptive political expression in school’.
The suit also says that one of the boys took off the sweatshirt, fearing punishment.
Rozin, for the school district, maintains that while the school district ‘does not prohibit students from the right to express their political views or from wearing clothing with political slogans,’ the student code prohibits ‘language or clothing containing language that is offensive, vulgar or profane.’
The slogan originated in October 2021 from a televised interview with NASCAR Sparks 300 race winner Brandon Brown at Talladega Superspeedway in Alabama.
NBC reporter Kelli Stavast mistakenly described a chant in the crowd, allegedly of “f**k Joe Biden”, as “Let’s Go Brandon”.
Brandon Brown celebrates after winning the NASCAR Xfinity Series Sparks 300 at Talladega Superspeedway on 2 October 2021 – the origin of the “Let’s Go Brandon” meme and slogan
Republican causes and those critical of Joe Biden have adopted the slogan in many forms
Brown, who is a Republican, said in December 2021 he had stayed quiet as the phrase became popular nationwide as he had ‘zero desire to be involved in politics’.
NASCAR has also distanced itself from the phrase, saying it does not want to be associated with politics on the left or the right.
DailyMail.com reached out to the Tri County Area Schools for comment.
