Anti-Bush Shirt OK in School, Court Says

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http://www.guardian.co.uk/worldlatest/story/0,,-6048888,00.html

MONTPELIER, Vt. (AP) - A middle school that censored the anti-drug, anti-Bush message on a student's T-shirt violated the boy's right to free speech, an appeals court ruled Wednesday.

The shirt bore images of cocaine and a martini glass - in addition to messages calling President Bush a lying drunk driver who abused cocaine and marijuana, and the ``chicken-hawk-in-chief'' who was engaged in a ``world domination tour.''

Zachary Guiles, then a seventh-grader, wore the shirt once a week for two months in early 2004 and refused to cover the images after a parent and student complained. He was suspended for one day that May, and the next day wore the shirt with duct tape covering the images.

Williamstown Middle School Principal Kathleen Morris-Kortz said the images violated the school dress code, which prohibits clothing that promotes the use of drugs or alcohol.

But the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in New York said in a 3-0 ruling that the school had