Reply #23: I don't yould win a conviction for a hate crime [View All]

[PDenton]

the best you could do is expell the students. If the Klan can be protected under the First Ammendment, why wouldn't a bunch of students making nooses be guilty of a felony hate crime? I'm not saying making a noose is right but at most you might get away charging them with "inciting a riot", though it might not hold up. It would be a slipper slope towards eroding First Ammendment rights, when there are simpler remedies.

I think expulsion or a lengthy suspension would be the best thing, as this has alot of support in precedent (school conduct codes). Schools can make some restrictions on a students behaviors, because they act as parens patriae while children are at school and it is in the schools interest to foster an atmosphere that is not disruptive to education.