Settlement allows NJ high school students to acknowledge Day of Truth

Settlement allows NJ high school students to acknowledge Day of Truth

Attorneys with the Alliance Defense Fund have agreed to dismiss a suit they filed on behalf of a New Jersey high school student who was told he and his Christian club could not promote the annual "Day of Truth." The dismissal came after school officials agreed to create a new student speech policy.

Jason Aufiero filed suit in April after being repeatedly blocked by school officials from engaging in Day of Truth activities. After the filing, the Northern Highlands Regional High School Board of Education reversed its decision, agreeing to institute a written policy regarding the free-speech rights of students.

Attorneys for Aufiero say he and club members had been blocked since the 2006 Day of Truth from participating in its observance at school, even though promotion of the yearly "Day of Silence" -- sponsored locally by the Gay-Straight Alliance Club and nationally by the Gay, Lesbian, Straight Education Network -- was allowed.

The Board has now agreed to a new student speech policy that Aufiero's attorneys say allows Christian students the same First Amendment rights afforded every other student on campus -- and that is why Alliance Defense Fund has dismissed the suit against the school.

According to ADF, more than 7,000 students participated in this year's observance of the Day of Truth.