PANDA NDAA Civil Liberties Watch

Terrorism has become a ridiculous catch-all.

Between DHS documents outlining the dangers of those who are “reverent of individual liberty” and “suspicious of centralized federal authority,” and Tennessee water officials claiming “water complaints” could be terrorism, terrorism is now nothing more than a paper-tiger.

This is no better illustrated than in an incident last month.

Gasuspendedforterroristicfacebookpost

Alleged facebook post, Courtesy WSB-TV

A group of Georgia middle school students decided they had enough of the school dress code and would violate it together in an act of civil disobedience. The school, Cowan Road Middle, found out about the plan and suspended the students for…terrorism.

What?

According to WSB-TV (emphasis added):

“To me it was just a bunch of 13-year-olds acting crazy,” said Christopher Cagle, the father of a suspended honor roll student.

Cagle said the principal called the students’ actions terroristic threats. He said the principal was too swift and severe with the punishment.”

Violating the school dress code is indeed a violation of school policy, but to elevate it to a level where one could be indefinitely detained, without charge or trial, is going way too far. Just in case, we contacted the school to see what they had to say about the incident, asking if they truly considered this on the level of a bomb threat, and they doubled down.

The principal refused to speak to the issue, but instead forwarded it to their PR manager, who responded to us. Though the school claims threats were made, they provide no examples or proof to back up their claims…and they still want to consider this terrorism.

Luckily, they are only punishing the students by having them write long essays on why civil disobedience is a crime.

Remember parents, next time your child considers violating the school’s dress code, especially if they do it in groups, with one girl being punished for saying as much as “I’m In”, they are a terrorist.

The word loses its relevance more and more every day.

You can let Principal Rachelle Holloway know what you think about naming children terrorists here:  rachelle.holloway@gscs.org

Dan Johnson is the Founder and National Director of People Against the NDAA