ALLENDALE, N.J. — Administrators at a New Jersey high school have reconsidered their reservations regarding Day of Truth materials and student participation in the event after receiving a letter from attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund. The annual Day of Truth event occurred at schools nationwide April 27, but students at Northern Highlands Regional High School will be able to participate Friday in a “make-up” event.
“The First Amendment rights of students do not cease once they step on campus,” said ADF Litigation Counsel Jeremy Tedesco. “We are pleased school officials recognized that their original reservations about student participation in the Day of Truth required a remedy. The decision of these officials to allow a ‘make-up’ event is definitely the right call.”
Student Jason Aufiero and other members of the school’s Christian Club were told by school administrators that their plans to promote the Day of Truth may not be permitted. Club members had asked to read an announcement over the school’s loudspeaker, distribute Day of Truth cards during non-instructional time, and hang posters in an area where other recognized clubs were previously allowed to display them.
Officials had already granted the request of members of the school’s Gay-Straight Alliance Club to celebrate their annual event, the Day of Silence, which promotes the homosexual agenda and also includes posters, T-shirts, and the distribution of literature. The Day of Truth is an annual event that provides an opportunity for participating students to express a different perspective than the Day of Silence.
“Allowing students to have a Day of Silence without allowing students to have a Day of Truth limits free speech and the free exchange of ideas. And that limits the ability of students to make good decisions,” Tedesco said. “Making decisions without the information you need is no different than guessing.”
A copy of the letter sent by ADF attorneys to Northern Highlands Regional High School officials can be read at
www.telladf.org/UserDocs/AufieroLetter.pdf.
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.
www.telladf.org www.dayoftruth.org