(The Hill) — The parents of a student who painted a pro-Charlie Kirk message on a school’s spirit rock are suing Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools for their handling of the incident.
The parents of a student at Ardrey Kell High School, supported by conservative legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, filed a federal lawsuit Monday accusing the school district of violating their daughter’s constitutional and due process rights.
The lawsuit alleges their daughter got permission from a staff member to paint a message of support for Charlie Kirk after his assassination with a Bible verse on the school’s spirit rock.
But after the painting was completed, the school district allegedly called it vandalism and said law enforcement had been contacted for a criminal investigation. The painting on the rock was also removed.
The parents said the school did not inform their daughter of her rights after pulling her out of class and forcing her to write a statement explaining her efforts in painting the rock.
The lawsuit said the parents contacted the school to correct their statement for weeks before the school publicly announced there was never an issue or investigation.
The suit also accuses the school of making new guidelines in the aftermath of this incident, despite previous messages such as Black Lives Matter being allowed on rock. It also says the board was clear about their dislike for Kirk during the process.
The Hill has reached out to the school board for comment.