ACLU defends peace activist

NORTH WILKESBORO -- The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a lawsuit against a rural North Carolina school system that barred a peace activist from talking to high school students about alternatives to joining the military.

The lawsuit, filed Monday, says the Wilkes County school district and its superintendent violated the First Amendment by preventing Sally Ferrell from distributing pamphlets and other materials that warn students to think before joining the military.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of Ferrell and Bill Towe, director of N.C. Peace Action.

"We've tried to find another alternative to bringing this lawsuit," Katherine Parker, legal director of the ACLU's North Carolina chapter, said Tuesday. "They just will not compromise."

The legal group is asking a judge to issue an injunction to allow Ferrell, a member of N.C. Peace Action, to distribute the materials and give her the same access to students as military recruiters.

No court date has been set, but Superintendent Stephen Laws said the district "won't back down."

He said the lawsuit could become a test case.