Thesis

Thesis

In 1965, when John and Mary Beth Tinker wore black armbands to school to protest the Vietnam War, their suspension sparked a legal battle. Tinker v. Des Moines culminated in a 1969 landmark Supreme Court decision that affirmed student rights to free expression and school responsibility to protect them, which redefined the First Amendment and provided a pathway to influence for youth.

                     The students’ armbands included a peace sign.                      (Tinker, John, Replica armband sent to authors, March 3, 2025) 

             "Mary Beth Tinker and her mother at a Des Moines, Iowa                school board meeting in 1965."  (Tinker Tour)