Teen sues over Confederate flag prom dress

_Lisa_ · #1 12-22-2004, 08:36 PM

Great...now the entire nation thinks even worse of Kentucky...

Quote:

LEXINGTON, Kentucky (AP) -- A teenager is suing her school district for barring her from the prom last spring because she was wearing a dress styled as a large Confederate battle flag.

The lawsuit filed Monday in U.S. District Court claims the Greenup County district and administrators violated Jacqueline Duty's First Amendment right to free speech and her right to celebrate her heritage at predominantly white Russell High School's prom May 1. She also is suing for defamation, false imprisonment and assault.

"Her only dance for her senior prom was on the sidewalk to a song playing on the radio," said her lawyer, Earl-Ray Neal.

Duty, 19, is seeking actual and punitive damages in excess of $50,000.

She said she worked on the design for the dress for four years, though she acknowledged that some might find the Confederate flag offensive.

"Everyone has their own opinion. But that's not mine," she told reporters outside the courthouse. "I'm proud of where I came from and my background."

Duty, now a college student, said school officials told her before the prom not to wear the dress, but she didn't have another one and decided to see if administrators would change their minds.

According to her lawsuit, she was met outside by two police officers and principal Sean Howard. She said the principal intimidated her by striking the vehicle she was in.

School offices were closed Wednesday. Superintendent Ronnie Back did not immediately respond to a call to his home seeking comment.

The Sons of Confederate Veterans has promised to help pay some of her legal expenses.

hoosier · #2 12-22-2004, 10:59 PM

I would never hire a lawyer named Earl-Ray

or Jim-Bob

or Bubba

_Lisa_ · #3 12-22-2004, 11:02 PM

I live in Lexington, KY & although this girl is from some random bum-fuck county somewhere near here I've never met anyone with so little tact that they would wear a confederate flag anything anywhere.

moe.ron · #4 12-23-2004, 02:25 AM

FAshion wise, it is a disaster. Somebody need to call the fashion police and lock her up.

Optimist Prime · #5 12-23-2004, 02:43 AM

Wait a minute.....was Kentucky part of the confederacy? I'm guessing yes, but I don't really care.

#6 12-23-2004, 02:57 AM

why would she be suing for defamation?

ThetaPrincess24 · #7 12-23-2004, 09:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Optimist Prime
Wait a minute.....was Kentucky part of the confederacy? I'm guessing yes, but I don't really care.

Half of it was and half of it wasnt. I've always been told the eastern half was union and the western half was confederate.

ThetaPrincess24 · #8 12-23-2004, 09:53 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by crzychx
I live in Lexington, KY & although this girl is from some random bum-fuck county somewhere near here I've never met anyone with so little tact that they would wear a confederate flag anything anywhere.

This was my high school.............Russell High school is actually full of kids from more well to do families (doctors, lawyers, big execs...). It's in Greenup County which i must agree is a bum-fuck county with a bunch of morons, but Russell High school is independent of Greenup county schools..........

I see nothign wrong with this girl's dress. The flag is part of history. I personally dont see anything racist about it. I'm not shocked this happened or no comment has been made from the school or superintendent because this is typical of the assinine shananigans that school system and high school does........oh the stories I could tell...........

adpiucf · #9 12-23-2004, 11:10 AM

"school officials told her before the prom not to wear the dress"

So she decided to wear it anyway, knowing full and well they had told her she would not be allowed to wear it and be admitted to the prom.

ETA: School officials have the right to set and enforce a dress code.

Also ETA: That was one fugly dress. Joan Rivers would be spinning in her grave. If Joan Rivers was dead.

33girl · #10 12-23-2004, 11:11 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by moe.ron
FAshion wise, it is a disaster. Somebody need to call the fashion police and lock her up.

I agree. I'm more offended by the fashion faux pas-ness of it than by the Confederate flag issue.

moe.ron · #11 12-23-2004, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by 33girl
I agree. I'm more offended by the fashion faux pas-ness of it than by the Confederate flag issue.

Seriously, I can't see anything good comming out of the Confederate flag when it come to fashion.

_Lisa_ · #12 12-23-2004, 12:12 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by moe.ron
Seriously, I can't see anything good comming out of the Confederate flag when it come to fashion.

Exactly!

Phasad1913 · #13 12-23-2004, 01:10 PM

Quote:

I personally dont see anything racist about it

Wow. That is interesting. Hell yeah its a part of history, and the part of history its about IS American racism.

Peaches-n-Cream · #14 12-23-2004, 01:48 PM

That is one fugly dress. I wish they had a picture of her wearing it so she could be on that website with the other ugly prom dresses so people can mock her all over the internet.

KSig RC · #15 12-23-2004, 03:06 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by Phasad1913
Wow. That is interesting. Hell yeah its a part of history, and the part of history its about IS American racism.

I'll argue that the 'stars and bars' has more to do with modern racism than historical (civil war era) racism . . .