Overview
- Alliance Defending Freedom filed the lawsuit on behalf of the student’s parents against the Charlotte-Mecklenburg Board of Education, alleging violations of the First, Fourth, Fifth and Fourteenth Amendments.
- Gabby Stout says she called for permission and then painted a heart, an American flag, “Freedom 1776,” and “Live Like Kirk—John 11:25” on Ardrey Kell High School’s spirit rock before officials painted over it.
- The principal initially labeled the painting vandalism and said law enforcement had been contacted, but a later district message said it was not vandalism and that no law enforcement investigation occurred.
- The suit alleges Stout was repeatedly pulled from class, compelled to write and revise a statement, and told to surrender her phone for a search without being advised of her rights, though no discipline was ultimately imposed.
- The district later revised its spirit rock policy to prohibit political and religious messages; the suit seeks a public correction, record expungement, policy relief, and damages, and the board has declined substantive comment.