Supreme Court declines First Amendment case of students forced to remove ‘Let’s Go Brandon’ sweatshirts

CNN · MS NOW and MS NOW report that the Supreme Court on Monday declined to hear an appeal from a Michigan mother and her two sons, who contested a school's demand that the boys remove "Let's Go Brandon" sweatshirts. The justices gave no explanation, which leaves in place a ruling for the school district and leaves open how far schools may go in restricting political speech they consider vulgar.

The brothers, then in eighth and sixth grades, wore the shirts to Tri County Middle School in 2022, where a teacher and an assistant principal separately told them to take them off. The family sued in 2023, citing the First and Fourteenth Amendments. MS NOW adds that officials said the phrase carries the F-word, and that the dress code barred lewd, indecent, vulgar or profane messages.

The 6th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals had ruled for the district in a divided decision. MS NOW reports that Judge John Nalbandian, joined by Judge Karen Nelson Moore, wrote that "In the schoolhouse, vulgarity trumps politics," while Judge John Bush dissented. The two Trump appointees on the panel split. The Foundation for Individual Rights and Expression represents the family.

Summarized by PolitiKool from CNN · MS NOW and MS NOW’s reporting. Read the full story at CNN · MS NOW → Also at MS NOW →