The benches aren’t ordinary benches. La Jolla High School has allowed students to paint slogans on three benches for years. But Principal Dana Shelbourne said the allowed graffiti should only involve school spirit messages and birthday greetings, not political topics.
In February, a group of Iranian-Americans at the school painted “Freedom for Iran” and “Down With Dictator” on the backs and seats of the three benches. The principal then ordered them painted over and said the content of all future messages would have to be approved by school authorities in advance.
The ACLU said the principal violated the students’ first amendment rights. The principal did not agree. He said the school had a bulletin board where political messages were permitted. The ACLU has now filed suit against the school district in San Diego County Superior Court.
The ACLU says the school officials should not have the authority to determine the content of messages painted on the benches.
Parham Hariri, a 2004 graduate of the high school, told the Los Angeles Times he was outraged that the political messages were painted over. As an Iranian, he said, he wants to see changes in Iran and believes the slogans could raise awareness among non-Iranian students.