This is so not-cool! Has our court system lost their ever-lovin' minds? It's just a song! The kids had already practiced it for a previous performance, and with all the other "stuff" surrounding a graduation ceremony, it's no wonder they wanted to go with something they already knew. So what's the problem?

SEATTLE, Wash.--A federal district court has dismissed a lawsuit over a school's decision to forbid a student woodwind ensemble's performance of the instrumental piece "Ave Maria" at a high school graduation ceremony. Attorneys for The Rutherford Institute had filed suit against the Everett School District, charging that the school's actions violated student Kathryn Nurre's right to freedom of speech and to be free from hostility to religion.

In dismissing the case, the U.S. District Court in Seattle ruled that although music is considered a form of speech that can be protected, the school district was within its legal rights to control the content of any speech at the graduation ceremony in order "to keep religion out of graduation as a whole." Taking issue with the court's ruling that the school's actions did not violate Nurre's First Amendment rights, Institute attorneys plan to appeal the case.

A few days ago, we asked you to help send Lou Martinez, a Prop. 36 graduate and current drug treatment counselor, to the International Drug Policy Reform conference.  Your response, along with a couple of large gifts from private donors, not only raised enough to send Lou to New Orleans, but made it possible to offer scholarship assistance to other potential attendees! 

If you are interested in applying for a scholarship, you can get more information on our website. 

The reasons to travel to the conference keep getting better…  We will have over 50 panels on a wide range of subjects, and we’re confirming new speakers from all across the drug policy reform spectrum every day.  You can see our programming – nearly complete! – here.

We’ve also just added a day-long training for the day before the conference, on December 5, called Harm Reduction Therapy: an Integrated Treatment for Trauma, Substance Abuse and Mental Illness.  Gulf Coast counselors and treatment providers can register for this training at a reduced rate, although it is open to all.  Along with the New Orleans Community Forum we’re planning for the Friday night of the conference, which will be free to conference attendees and New Orleans citizens, we’re continuing to make strides toward our goal to promote dialogue and positive change in the region.

The early registration deadline is coming up soon (November 5) and the scholarship deadline even sooner (October 22).  Be sure to check out the conference website, apply for a scholarship, and register to attend as soon as you can!

If you haven't had a chance to donate to the scholarship fund, it's not too late. You can do so here.

We hope to see you in New Orleans!
 
Stefanie Jones
Conference Coordinator
Drug Policy Alliance
 
and
 
Co-host organizations the ACLU, Harm Reduction Coalition, Law Enforcement Against Prohibition, Marijuana Policy Project and Students for Sensible Drug Policy.