Thanks to the persistence of a pro-life student, a Las Vegas school that originally ruled against allowing a pro-life club on its grounds changed its mind after being contacted by the student’s lawyer.
The Daily Caller is reporting on the successful effort by Angelique Clark, a junior at West Career and Technical Academy in Las Vegas to reverse the school’s decision after they turned down her application to start a pro-life club. The school turned down the request because they said the club was too “controversial” and other people were more qualified to speak on the subject.
Clark disagreed, saying the ban was unfair because the school was allowing other clubs such as a gay-straight alliance club, a Bible club, an anime club, and others. She even had 25 people who were ready to join the pro-life club as soon as it was permitted.
But the school refused.
Clark decided to take her case to the religious liberty legal group, the Thomas More Society, who promptly sued the school on her behalf, claiming a violation of the student’s free speech rights. Within a week, a counsel for the school district reached out to discuss a settlement.
“We’re pleased with the quick response we’ve received from District officials,” said Jocelyn Floyd, Associate Counsel of Thomas More Society. “They have acknowledged that these are serious issues and we’re grateful for their efforts to protect the speech rights of not just Angelique and her club, but of all future clubs in the Clark County School District.”
This week, the District’s General Counsel, Carlos McDade, sent a letter formally confirming “that Angelique Clark will be allowed to form a non-curriculum related, non-school sponsored, student initiated, student led pro-life group at West Career & Technical Academy.”
The Society and the District are still in the process of negotiating a final settlement and the Society expects it to lead to a smooth resolution and dismissal of the lawsuit.
“I am so excited that I will finally be able to start a pro-life club at my high school,” Clark said. “I started with the idea to provide a safe place to educate my fellow students on the beauty of life at all stages, and I am very thankful to Students for Life of America and the Thomas More Society for helping me defend my rights so that students at my school can now gather for life. I look forward to running the WCTA pro-life club with all the other students who have already signed up to be a voice for the voiceless and ignored—the preborn and the mothers who think abortion is their only choice.”
Way to go, Angelique!
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