Friday, December 22, 2006









(December 21, 2006)--Four Round Rock high school parents are suing the district and the city , accusing them of violating students' rights to freedom of speech during an immigration march.

The lawsuit was filed on behalf of 51 students who were arrested in March and cited under the city's youth curfew ordinance.

The lawsuit seeks unspecified damages and a judgment specifying the rights of the students under the state and federal constitution, according to Jim Harrington, director of the Texas Civil
Rights Project, a nonprofit representing the parents and students.

Round Rock's youth curfew ordinance requires students younger than 17 to be in school between 9 a.m. and 2:30 p.m.

The city later dismissed the charges against the students because they were exercising their constitutional rights.

Under the curfew law, that is a defense against enforcement.

City officials had not seen a copy of the lawsuit and could not comment.

School district offices are closed through January.