ACLU of Nevada Statement on Student Walkout Protests

LAS VEGAS – In response to recent student protests throughout the state, the ACLU of Nevada released the following statement in support of student expression.

On Thursday night, the nonpartisan nonprofit held a virtual Know Your Rights meeting with Nevada students and families to provide information on student walkouts. The organization also maintains a form for students, including student protesters, who find themselves disciplined for engaging in First Amendment activity. The form is available online at aclunv.org/ProtestReport.

ACLU of Nevada executive director Athar Haseebullah said:

“Our message to students and families throughout Nevada who are mortified by the federal government’s misconduct is one of solidarity. As students seek to use their voices to draw attention to the horrific abuse ICE is perpetuating nationwide, our organization will continue to make sure the rights of those engaged in protest activity in Nevada are protected. While there are gray areas in this area of law surrounding student walkouts, many of those gray areas will likely be made clear should litigation arise, and as everyone knows, we are no strangers to Nevada courtrooms. Schools cannot subject students to discipline simply because they participated in protest and discipline of students who engage in student walkouts, including in-school suspension, out-of-school suspension, expulsion, detention, prohibiting extracurricular access, school staff making threats, impacts to a student’s ability to move up a grade, and impacts to a student’s ability to graduate, will be litigated if those should arise. Disparities in the way absences are treated could also create grounds for litigation, especially when a parent or guardian requests excusal of an absence and those requests are not honored. If you believe your rights were violated, complete our intake form on our website. We encourage Nevada school districts to spend their time ensuring all of our students have the support they need in the midst of barbaric federal actions that have led to family separation and immense fear instead of finding ways to try to chill or suppress speech.”