An Ohio father’s lawsuit against a school district for punishing his son over a “Let’s Go Brandon” T-shirt raises critical First Amendment concerns and challenges how public schools balance political expression with dress code enforcement.
Key Insights
- An Ohio father claims his son’s constitutional rights were violated when school staff punished him for wearing a “Let’s Go Brandon” T-shirt.
- The lawsuit alleges violations of both First Amendment free speech rights and Fourteenth Amendment due process protections.
- School officials labeled the phrase inappropriate because it’s widely understood as code for a vulgar expression criticizing President Biden.
- The case highlights ongoing tensions between student political expression and school dress code policies across the country.
- Free speech advocates argue that criticism of political figures is constitutionally protected, even in school settings.
Constitutional Rights vs. School Policy
The conflict began in November when a teacher instructed the student to cover his “Let’s Go Brandon” T-shirt and later issued a disciplinary “pink slip.” According to the lawsuit, the student faced escalating consequences, including detention, for continuing to wear the shirt despite warnings from school officials. The principal allegedly demanded the student never wear the shirt again, claiming the phrase represented a code for vulgar language directed at President Biden, making it inappropriate for the school environment.
The father’s legal complaint specifically targets the school’s dress code as “unconstitutionally vague,” arguing it grants administrators excessive discretion in determining what constitutes inappropriate attire. This case joins similar disputes nationwide where schools have restricted politically-themed clothing, raising questions about the boundaries of student expression rights. The Ohio school district has not publicly commented on the allegations due to the ongoing litigation.
The Phrase at the Center of Controversy
The “Let’s Go Brandon” slogan emerged in 2021 as a euphemistic substitute for a more explicit chant criticizing President Biden. The phrase quickly became popular among conservatives as a way to voice disapproval of the administration while avoiding profanity. The lawsuit maintains that while the origin of the phrase may be connected to a vulgar expression, the phrase itself contains no explicit language and represents protected political speech.
“Criticism of the president is core political speech protected by the First Amendment.” – FIRE attorney Conor Fitzpatrick
According to court documents, school staff confronted the student about the shirt’s message. One teacher allegedly told the student, “I know what that means,” and questioned him by asking, “Do you like offending people?” The lawsuit claims these interactions demonstrate that school officials were targeting the political content of the message rather than enforcing a neutral dress code policy.
Broader Implications for Student Speech
This case isn’t isolated. In Michigan, a similar lawsuit emerged when students were prohibited from wearing clothing with the same phrase. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression (FIRE) has become involved in several of these cases, advocating for students’ rights to express political beliefs in school settings. These cases build upon decades of legal precedent regarding student speech, dating back to landmark Supreme Court decisions that established baseline protections for student expression.
“Do you like offending people?” – A teacher
Legal experts note that while schools maintain authority to regulate disruptive behavior and enforce reasonable dress codes, they cannot selectively target political viewpoints. The challenge for courts is determining whether restrictions on phrases like “Let’s Go Brandon” represent viewpoint discrimination or legitimate enforcement of content-neutral policies designed to maintain an appropriate educational environment. This balance between individual expression and institutional authority continues to evolve as political divisions deepen in American society.
Sources:
- Dad claims son was harassed by staff for wearing ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ shirt, sues school district
- Dad sues after eighth-grade son is forbidden from wearing ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ T-shirt to school
