LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (AP) – A federal lawsuit says a northwest Arkansas school
district violated a student’s right to free speech when expelling him for
posting a photo of himself on social media holding a firearm.
The Arkansas Democrat-Gazette reports that attorneys filed the lawsuit late
last month on behalf of Jessica McKinney, the student’s mother. The lawsuit
identifies the student only as “K.P.”
The lawsuit alleges the Huntsville High School junior posted an Instagram
photo of himself wearing a trench coat and holding an assault rifle. The photo
came 10 days after the Florida school shooting that left 17 people dead.
Huntsville School District’s board expelled the student in March, saying
students couldn’t use threat, intimidation or fear to disrupt any school
mission.
The lawsuit alleges the principal falsely accused K.P. of “criminal and
terroristic conduct toward a school community.”
The district declined to comment.
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