Many students at Lawrence County High school consider the ban  insulting to their heritage.  Cherokees played an extensive role as  Confederate-Southern Americans during the civil war, and students at  Lawrence County High

School, many of whom are of Confederate-Cherokee ancestry, hold Confederate symbols in veneration. One student, wearing a “Dixie Outfitter” shirt, was told by a school employee that anyone wearing that type of shirt was an  “ignorant idiot.”  Cherokee and/or Confederate-Southern Americans find the school’s bias against Confederate heritage deeply offending.

Approximately 80 students expressed their disapproval of the ban by signing a petition requesting that the ban be rescinded.  The school made no reply to the petition nor any attempt to assuage the discriminatory environment.

The students’ parents, their attorneys and members of the Alabama Division, Sons of Confederate Veterans went before the school board twice explaining that the students felt their constitutional and civil rights were being violated.  Furthermore, parents and the Sons of Confederate veterans offered a proposal meant to reconcile student rights and the school’s policy against Confederate symbols. The school board was offered educational seminars regarding the meaning(s) of Confederate symbols. To date, the school board is not responding to the parents and Sons of Confederate Veteran’s proposal or to requests to end the ban on Confederate symbols.

SLRC Chief Trial Counsel, Kirk D. Lyons and Native American Initiative  Attorney Charles E. Yow filed the complaint in the United States District Court for the Northern District of Alabama sitting in Huntsville.  Larry Becraft of Huntsville is serving as local counsel.   The suit names Lawrence County High School Principal, Ricky Nichols, and Superintendent Dexter Rutherford, in their official capacities.

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