Question 3 • RMA FL-2100310-United States History Semester 2
Read the excerpt from the Tinker v. Des Moines US Supreme Court decision in 1969. These petitioners merely went about their ordained rounds in school. Their deviation consisted only in wearing on their sleeve a band of black cloth, not more than two inches wide. They wore it to exhibit their disapproval of the Vietnam hostilities and their advocacy of a truce, to make their views known, and, by their example, to influence others to adopt them. They neither interrupted school activities nor sought to intrude in the school affairs or the lives of others. They caused discussion outside of the classrooms, but no interference with work and no disorder. In the circumstances, our Constitution does not permit officials of the State to deny their form of expression.What did Mary Beth and John Tinker do at school that was found to be a protected form of expression by the Supreme Court?
Answer
A
They started arguments in their classes with fellow students.
B
They led a protest rally outside the school during lunch.
C
They wore black armbands as a nonverbal show of protest.
D
They convinced other students to protest by staging a walkout.
Explanation
The excerpt says the students wore black cloth bands on their sleeves to show disapproval of the Vietnam War and support for a truce. They did not interrupt classes or disrupt school activities. Therefore, the protected expression was wearing black armbands as a nonverbal protest.
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