What does Thomas Jefferson have in common with nose rings?
They’re both the subject of tonight’s updates.
Monday, Johnston County Schools announced that it would drop it’s appeal for a dress code “violator” after a settlement was reached, according to the Associated Press.
Last October, Joanna Carter wrote about a teen in Johnston County who was suspended for wearing a small stud in her pierced nose. School officials said her nasal no-no violated a dress code policy that restricts visable piercings to ears.
Ariana Iacono, a 15-year-old student at Clayton High School was repeatedly suspended for her violation. Iacono refused to take it out and fought her suspension on religous reasons because she and her family belong to the Church of Body Modification. The small sect believes: “Practicing body modification and engaging in body manipulation rituals strengthen the bond between mind, body, and soul.”
She enlisted the help of the American Civil Liberties Union and was allowed to go back to school while the case was working through the system.
“Engaging in a lengthy and costly lawsuit would have directed much-needed funding away from our classrooms,” Superintendent Ed Croom said in a written statement.
In addition to Iacono’s exemption from the dress code: her record will be returned to a clean slate; she will be allowed to retake an honors class she missed; and Johnston County Schools will have to pay $15,000 in legal expenses. The system will also have to clarify that “school officials can’t determine whether a student’s religious beliefs are central to that religion’s teachings, as currently spelled out in the policy, but only whether they’re sincerely held. It also requires the district to give students more ability to show that their religious beliefs are sincere.”
Meanwhile, in Washington D.C., about 50 protesters danced away in the rotunda at the Jefferson Memorial Saturday before U.S. Park Police closed the landmark.
The previous week, five people were arrested for doing the same, demonstrating their disapproval of a recent court decision which upheld a ban on restricting expressive body movement at the monument. Libertarian activist and television host Adam Kokesh was violently slammed to the ground and choked by an officer.
Before the “Dance Party @ TJ’s commenced, Kokesh gave a speech on the steps, dedicating the event to the former Marine killed by a SWAT Team and “Everyone who’s been molested by the TSA.”
“The world is dancing because oppression by the police state is a feature of modern government that must be ended one way or another,” Kokesh said. “If our government refuses to treat us like human beings, then it is time for open revolt. It is time for peaceful noncompliance. It is time to withdraw our support of government. It is a process that is already underway.”
Kokesh noted that there were mirror events going on in “at least 34 cities in 22 states across America, it is also a global phenomenon. There are people gathering today in at least 27 countries in countless cities, and all over the globe, countless individuals are standing, or dancing with us.”
He concluded his speech by saying, “The freedom to be happy can never be taken away. And as for this life thing, well, if you’re not having fun, you’re not doing it right. So let’s dance.”
Benjamin Franklin is quoted as telling a woman who asked about what kind of government he and the other founding father’s had created: “A republic…if you can keep it.”
If we don’t start educating this nation on liberty, to paraphrase Alan Charles Kors, we will not even know when it is lost.
another fine article, my friend. may you never lose your passion.
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