In the midst of the controversial Vietnam War, a handful of middle and high school students chose to protest the war through the wearing of black armbands. Their suspension led to a Supreme Court case that would change how speech functions in public schools.

Do public school students have a right to free expression? Prof. Nadine Strossen of New York Law School discusses the case that started it all, Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District.

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As always, the Federalist Society takes no position on particular legal or public policy issues; all expressions of opinion are those of the speaker.

Learn more about Nadine Strossen:
https://www.nyls.edu/faculty/nadine-strossen/

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Related Links & Differing Views:

Virginia Law Review: “The Great Unfilled Promise of Tinker
https://www.virginialawreview.org/articles/great-unfulfilled-promise-tinker/

Iowa Law Review: On the 50th Anniversary of Tinker v. Des Moines: Toward a Positive View of Free Speech on College Campuses”
https://ilr.law.uiowa.edu/print/volume-105-issue-5/on-the-50th-anniversary-of-tinker-v-des-moines-toward-a-positive-view-of-free-speech-on-college-campuses/

Drake Law Review: “Behind the Scenes in Iowa’s Greatest Case”
https://lawreviewdrake.files.wordpress.com/2016/09/johnson.pdf

SCOTUSblog: “Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District: Kelly Shackelford on Symbolic Speech”
https://www.scotusblog.com/2013/11/tinker-v-des-moines-independent-community-school-district-kelly-shackelford-on-symbolic-speech/