A 16 year old cheerleader from Silsbee High School in Texas was kicked off the cheerleading team after she refused to cheer for her accused rapist.
The rape reportedly took place at a party in 2008 when football star Rakheem Bolton, fellow player Christian Roundtree and another boy pushed her into a bedroom and locked the door, held her down, and sexually assaulted her. When others tried to enter the room, Bolton and Roundtree jumped out a window, leaving their clothes behind. The girl filed charges, but her nightmare would only continue.
When the girl returned to school, administrators decided the best course of action was for the girl to slink away in a corner and try not to be seen. They told her to avoid the cafeteria and not take part in homecoming. Out of sight, out of mind.
But the girl refused to hide and she also refused to root for Rakheem Bolton on the court during basketball season. While the other girls cheered while he was at the free throw line, she remained silent. the girl was given an ultimatum to cheer for Bolton or quit the team. She refused to cheer for the accused rapist.
Her parents sued, claiming her termination violated her free speech. But in an equally shocking ruling, a Texas appeals court ruled that the girl had no right to free speech, since the school could dictate her speech in her capacity as a cheerleader.
Last month, adding insult to injury, Bolton was allowed to plead to a lesser charge of assault. He received just two years of probation, a $2,500 fine, community service, and is required to take an anger management class.
What are your thoughts on this?