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2023-01-05 -Land of the Free
Ninth Circuit Rules That Middle School Teacher's MAGA Hat Was Protected Speech
[ZERO] There is a major ruling out of the United States States Court of Appeals for the Ninth Circuit in favor of a middle school science teacher, Eric Dodge, who was barred from wearing a "Make America Great Again" baseball cap and later berated by the principal, Caroline Garrett, as a "racist" and a "homophobe."

The unanimous court ruled that the hat was protected speech under the First Amendment.

District Court judge James L. Robart ruled against Dodge and dismissed the case in its entirety. (Robart is the judge who was publicly denounced by former President Trump). Robart dismissed the case on the grounds of qualified immunity or a failure to substantiate claims.

The Ninth Circuit reversed Robart, but it did uphold the dismissal of the case against two defendants, the Evergreen Public Schools district and the district’s Chief Human Resources Officer Jenae Gomes.

Eric Dodge had only recently been assigned to the school after he recovered from a stroke. He is a 17-year veteran of the Evergreen district. He told Garrett that he wore the hat because he had sensitive spots on his scalp that had to be protected from the sun. He also said that he agreed with the message of the hat. Garrett said that the hat represented hate and prejudice to many others.
Posted by Besoeker 2023-01-05 03:29|| || Front Page|| [11130 views ]  Top

#1 
Knowing how, the 9th has played many political and social agenda games in the past. I have to naturally wonder how this ruling will be used to justify some new extreme immoral display and/or inappropriate social behavior.
Posted by NN2N1 2023-01-05 06:23||   2023-01-05 06:23|| Front Page Top

#2 Former Principal Caroline Garrett - she resigned
Posted by Frank G 2023-01-05 12:02||   2023-01-05 12:02|| Front Page Top

#3 ^ Probably on a taxpayer funded pension that guarantees she will miss no meals.

And that after all the legal fees she cost the district. Also the taxpayers' dime.
Posted by M. Murcek 2023-01-05 12:07||   2023-01-05 12:07|| Front Page Top

#4 They will next make the argument that drag is political speech.
Posted by Super Hose 2023-01-05 12:59||   2023-01-05 12:59|| Front Page Top

#5 "Was"? You meant "is"?

Posted by Seeking Cure For Ignorance 2023-01-05 13:02||   2023-01-05 13:02|| Front Page Top

03:23 Besoeker
02:05 Grom the Affective
02:04 Grom the Affective
01:26 49 Pan
00:22 EMS Artifact
00:16 Skidmark









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