What if you get suspended from school because of something you wear? Not only was the clothing or item appropriate, it was something you were struggling with or something you believe is right. Is it right or okay for this to happen? There is a specific incident where this situation happened to some teenagers in Des Moines, Iowa, in December 1965. A group of students who wanted to wear black armbands during the holiday season were in for a wake-up call. (FORTAS) These plans and/or ideas were quickly rejected by high school principals. The principals learned of the teenager's plan, so there was a meeting a few days before. The goal of the meeting was to assure the teenagers that if they wore the black headband in a few days, they would be asked to remove it; if they refused, they would be given a suspension. (KELLY) Is this a violation of the First Amendment? The First Amendment establishes some of the freedoms we have. These are freedom of religion and freedom of expression. These include the rights to freedom of speech, of the press, of assembly, and of petitioning the government. The reason they wanted to wear the black armband was to show their anti-war faith in the Vietnam War. Revolting against the authorities' decision, three students wore armbands and were suspended. The students' names are John F. Tinker, who was 15 at the time, Christopher Eckhardt, 16, and Mary Beth Tinker, 13 (John's younger sister). Suspended, the students did not return until after New Year's Eve (FORTAS). “This case was significant because the justices said, “students do not abandon their civil rights when they enter school...." The school is not allowed to limit the First Amendment to a student or a teacher... half of sheet ...... Community School District.” Education for Freedom Lesson 8 - Case Summary: Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. The Freedom Forum., 5 June 1990. Web. 11 April 2014Calagna, Codi. "Codi Calagna's E-Journal." Codi Calagna's E-Journal: Pedagogical Blogging. Codi Calagna, 28 November 2012. Web. 11 April 2014. Fortas, Justice. “Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969).” Tinker v. Des Moines School District (1969). Independent Community School District, October 5, 2009. Web. April 10, 2014. Gold, Susan D. Two Students Go to Court Tinker V. Des Moines: Free Speech for Students, n.d. 29-34. Print.Kelly, Martin. “Tinker v. Des Moines.” About.com American History, April 7, 2014. Web. April 11, 2014.Wheeler, David R. “Are You Still Students Is There Free Speech in School?” The Atlantic. Atlantic Media Company, April 7, 2014. Web. April 10. 2014.