Local residents served the Pennsbury Board of Education in Bucks County after being repeatedly silenced for raising concerns at school board meetings. Forensic analysisblocking criticism of policies, and suppressing First Amendment rights.
Douglas Marshall, Simon Campbell and Robert Abrams were concerned members of the community. Tim Daly filed their complaint in U.S. District Court Eastern District of Pennsylvania, October 1. The Institute for Free Speech represents them.
Plaintiffs claim that the school board launched a multifaceted assault on their First Amendment rights in public meetings. This included shouting at them, creating speech-restrictive policies and editing their comments from YouTube videos. The Pennsbury School District could be expected to instruct Orwell’s. 1984 as literature or social commentary—not use it as an instruction manual,” they assert in their complaint.
After a heated exchange at the public meeting, this summer’s viral sensation was due to it being heated video compilationMany Pennsbury School Board members have repeatedly blocked criticisms of their policies being circulated online. Video by Peter Amuso, Pennsbury Assistant Lawyer (who isn’t technically). The school board() is heard constantly interrupting members of the community, shouting, “You’re done!”
“In May, Assistant solicitor Amuso told my me, You’re finished,’ and I said, I’ll meet you in Court,'” Tim Daly (one of the many men cut off in video), stated in a Press release“The School Board Members who have violated my rights were promised that I would file this suit to fulfill that promise.”
Simon Campbell, Plaintiff feels that the conduct of the board has had a chilling impact on speech and expression in his community. ReasonAfter witnessing the treatment of a few students by the school district, many people feel too scared to make public comments or speak up. This has made many reconsider whether or not they want to speak.
Also, the board was caught editing plaintiff Douglas Marshall’s critique of equity policies in the YouTube video of their March 18 meeting. A internal Email Pennsylvania’s Right to Know Law confirms that this was done because of content.
Cherrissa Gibson, district director for Equity, Diversity and Education, expressed her concern that comments contained “microaggressions” and “stereotypical beliefs which are harmful”. The board was ultimately advised to remove the abusive and non-relevant portions of Marshall’s comments from the recording.
The jury then edited the YouTube clip’s testimony. This is a claim that amounts to memory. [holing]”Disable speech from public records because it is not spoken” After community members protested against the board’s selective censorship of speech, the video was restored to its original form.
The Pennsbury School Board also implemented controversial policies that the plaintiffs claim are meant to limit criticism of its processes and procedures. Policies 903, among others, prohibit speech considered “irrelevant,” offensive,” personally directed,” abusive or inappropriate. The policy also requires that testimonitors publicly disclose their home address in order to make comments.
“Pennsbury officials are trampling upon the First Amendment right of parents to speak out about their schools,” Alan Gura from the Institute for Free Speech Vice President for Legal Affairs, said. In a press releaseIt is. They have cut off their parents at the end of each sentence, shouted over critics in order to stop them being heard, edited remarks from recordings of public meetings and intimidated speakers, forcing them to announce publicly their home addresses.
The outcome of the recent revival of public participation in school board meetings is a result of Marshall v. AmusoThis may be a good reminder about the obligations that elected officials have towards their constituents.
Campbell said that the First Amendment and United States Constitution were not literal in Campbell’s mind. They are drinking on their government power. Because they think that they have all the power if they are elected to office and they vote for something, they can be smug. We are challenging this entire notion.
On Tuesday, School board electionsTwo of the incumbent members on the school board were elected and Democrats won again every seat.