Freedom of speech is guaranteed in the First Amendment to the US Constitution and reads:
Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances.
Mr. Starnes' supporters have taken full advantage of their First Amendment rights:
1. through peaceable assembly
2. by petitioning the government (i.e.. the school board) for redress of grievances
3. by providing information to the media and submitting to media interviews
4. by taking the opportunity to speak as much as was allowable by policy in Board meetings
5. by submitting affidavits for the hearing
6. by making full use of internet publishing via Facebook and e-mail
7. by submitting letters to the editors of local newspapers
What they could not do was:
1. discuss either the teacher or student involved in the incident at a public board meeting, which is a long-standing POLICY of this and almost every school board in the state, in order to protect the privacy of those individuals
2. speak before or after the Board voted on the recommendation, because LEGALLY the Board's decision was made based on testimony made in the June 10 hearing
Free speech is not absolute. There are limits, which the Board has exercised by following both policy and the law.
