Decorah HS students speak at event broadcast by Iowa Public TV

Posted: Tue, Feb 26, 2019 1:36 PM

(Left to right): Lauren Johnson and Grace Gerleman

50 years ago, the US Supreme Court issued a ruling in a case involving the Des Moines School District and five students who were suspended for wearing black armbands to school to protest the war in Vietnam. On February 24th, 1969, the Supreme Court ruled 7-2 that students do not "shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate."

The State Historical Society of Iowa held a program over the weekend to mark the anniversary--and it invited Decorah High School students Grace Gerleman and Lauren Johnson to participate in the televised ceremony shown on Iowa Public TV.

Gerleman and Johnson shared their National History Day project, which they completed as 8th graders along with group members Ruby Sullivan and Larsson Shockey. The project focused on Edna Griffin, who is known as the "Rosa Parks" of Iowa. Gerleman and Johnson highlighted the significance and impact Griffin had on the Civil Rights movement in Iowa.

Grace Gerleman stated, "It was an honor to speak at the Tinker v. Des Moines Anniversary, especially when student voices and First Amendment rights are so critical in today's society."

Video of the ceremony, including the comments by Gerleman and Jonnson, can be found at: https://www.facebook.com/iowapublictelevision/videos/537164946794863/

(Left to right): Tinker v. Des Moines program participants John Tinker, Stanley Griffin, Grace Gerleman, Mary Beth Tinker and Lauren Johnson.