In 1965, three Des Moines students-Mary Beth Tinker, 13, John Tinker, 15, and Christopher Eckhardt, 16-were brave enough to take a peaceful stand against an unpopular antiwar belief. This led the Supreme Court to protect public school students as "persons" under the United States Constitution, giving all American students the ability to enjoy greater freedom of speech.
“It can hardly be argued that either students or teachers shed their constitutional rights to freedom of speech or expression at the schoolhouse gate." - Justice Abe Fortas - 1969 - Tinker V. Des Moines
Walter Cronkite Announcing Supreme Court Decision on CBS Evening News. Feb. 24, 1969 - Courtesy: Vanderbilt News Archive - Click to play.
