Cursing allowed at school board meetings in Forsyth County, judge says

FORSYTH COUNTY, Ga. — A U.S. district judge has issued a temporary injunction against Forsyth County Schools. The injunction says people who speak at board meetings can swear at board members, but they need to keep their comments smut-free.

The case comes from a group of mothers who call themselves the Mama Bears, who have appeared at board meetings and would read aloud passages from books found in district libraries that contain explicit language and images.

The Forsyth County School Board would cut off the women, saying they were violating its public speaking policies. The board has even told some of them they could not come back unless they followed the rules.

Parents Alison Hair and Cindy Martin then sued.

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In the judge’s order, he did not strike down the school board’s policy restricting obscene remarks or loud and boisterous conduct or comments. The Forsyth policy did not define the words, which was among the plaintiffs’ concerns.

“Our rights were violated. It was upheld in court,” Hair told the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, after the judge issued his order.

“Whether you’re on the left or the right,” Martin told the paper. “This is a victory for all people.”

Both women said they will be attending December’s board meeting, with Martin promising to be “that thorn in their side.”

Forsyth County Schools did not say much about the order.

“Our counsel received the order last evening,” the district said in an email to the AJC on Thursday. “Since litigation is still ongoing, we are unable to comment further at this time.”

The Atlanta Journal-Constitution contributed to this article.

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