29-01-2025
NAACP lawsuit claims SC school districts violated Constitutional rights of students
FORT MILL, S.C. (QUEEN CITY NEWS) — The NAACP is bringing a lawsuit against two South Carolina school districts.
The suit alleges public education officials in at least two school districts and the state superintendent violated several constitutional rights of students – including freedom of speech and due process.
However, the defendants say they were just following state law by removing items in the curriculum dealing with race and gender.
Gov. McMaster to deliver State of the State address Wednesday
The law at the center of the case is a proviso – attached to the 2021 state budget – which stops school districts from using public funds 'for partisan' instruction. Under the definition, that includes material about racial and gender inequities or causes 'discomfort, guilt, or any other form of psychological distress on account of his race or sex.'
Attorneys for the legal defense fund say the clause severely limits educators, silences Black voices, and is being used to ban books.
They filed the civil rights lawsuit in federal court Monday.
The suit names state Superintendent of Education Ellen Weaver and two districts – Lexington-Richland 5 and Lexington District 3 – as defendants.
Queen City News Chief Legal Analyst Khalif Rhodes says the timing of the case is important as President Donald Trump has expressed interest in dissolving the U.S. Department of Education.
The Legal Defense Fund claims South Carolina is one of 20 states to adopt laws or policies restricting conversations in the classroom around age or gender since 2020.
State education department officials called the complaint 'meritless' and said in a statement their 'commitment to teach both the tragedies and triumphs of America's journey remains unchanged.'
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