Family Members Charged for Loud Cheering at Mississippi Graduation. Does this infringe on the first amendment?

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:12:09 -0400

Four people could face jail time for cheering too loudly at a Mississippi high school graduation.

Authorities have charged them with disturbing the peace, punishable by up to six months in jail and a $500 fine, for disrupting commencement exercises at Senatobia High School on May 21.
http://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/family-members-charged-loud-cheering-mississippi-graduation-n369771

Is it just me or does it seem this touches on the First Amendment Rights to free speech?

The First Amendment (Amendment I) to the United States Constitution prohibits the making of any law respecting an establishment of religion, impeding the free exercise of religion, abridging the freedom of speech, infringing on the freedom of the press, interfering with the right to peaceably assemble or prohibiting ...

Family Members Charged for Loud Cheering at Mississippi Graduation

The four could be fined up to $500 and face up to six months in jail for cheering during Senatobia High School's graduation.

Response by SCPO David Lockwood made Jun 5 at 2015 9:22 AM

SCPO David Lockwood — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:22:07 -0400

Really? What's wrong with showing excitement about your children achieving something that many do not? Crazy!

Response by Maj Chris Nelson made Jun 5 at 2015 9:23 AM

Maj Chris Nelson — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:23:21 -0400

This is tough. They are not being charged for 1st amendment, really. They are being charged with disturbing the peace. There are many many people present to help celebrate more then 3-4 people's accomplishment. The school made it very clear in many ways to 'please hold all celebration until the end so that ALL students and families could actually hear their names in this moment. For a large school with HUNDREDS of students graduating, this whole thing is going to take awhile already, without having to pause between students to allow for quiet between students. Also, what about that 1 student that has NOBODY there....who will cheer? Better to wait to the end and applaud them all at once. I don't fully agree with the charges, HOWEVER, I might agree with the concept, situation dependent.

Response by Capt Seid Waddell made Jun 5 at 2015 9:29 AM

Capt Seid Waddell — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 09:29:49 -0400

"The superintendent, Jay Foster, who pressed the charges, told WMC that outbursts during past graduations led him to get tough. When the cheering is too loud, he said, some graduates can't hear their names called.

'I hope we send them a message that everybody deserves the right to hear their child's name called, see their child walk across stage,' he said.

School officials had put a warning in the program saying that anyone who was disruptive or didn't hold their applause could be removed."

Sounds to me that fair warning was given.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 10:09 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 10:09:26 -0400

More liberal bullshit......why do we allow this to happen.

Response by SSG Stephen Arnold made Jun 5 at 2015 10:40 AM

SSG Stephen Arnold — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 10:40:27 -0400

It's about time.

Response by SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. made Jun 5 at 2015 11:03 AM

SPC Jan Allbright, M.Sc., R.S. — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 11:03:03 -0400

Yes.
We need to encourage loud and rude behavior!

Response by SGT Ben Keen made Jun 5 at 2015 11:16 AM

SGT Ben Keen — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 11:16:49 -0400

Just like a lot of knee jerk reporting, there are a lot of details left out. The question I have is when were the family members cheering? It if was while their family member was walking across the stage then cheer, clap, ring a cow bell, celebrate the achievement. However, once you family member finished their walk, sit down, put the cow bell away and let the next family celebrate. Just remember, there are two sides to every story here people.

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 5 at 2015 11:56 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 11:56:31 -0400

My suspicion is that these charges will go away or result in no time or fine. The parents are sitting next to a basketball court, where fans cheer thunderously during and after games. They cheered for their graduate and possibly some other graduates. The superintendent had the option to remove them for 'disturbance' or to stop the process until the 'disturbance' ended. Although not a First Amendment defense, they didn't yell 'fire' in a crowded place. For the Superintendent to charge 'civil disturbance', she wold have to describe how other parents didn't meet her criteria to be charged while this family did.

Finally, many schools and teacher/administrators, moved from providing a proper education to control many years ago. K through College includes a habit of telling students what to do, when to do it and they believe individual rights are subordinate to the education process. Whether it is prayer in school, disagreeing with the school administration, what clothes students wear, tattoos, guns in school and even search and seizure, the schools find these rights offensive. If they would just focus on the job of providing the best quality education and stop telling people how to live their life, the quality of graduates may improve and people may have more respect for the system and the ceremonies.

Response by PO2 Skip Kirkwood made Jun 5 at 2015 7:07 PM

PO2 Skip Kirkwood — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 19:07:58 -0400

I'm not usually this simple. But this....this is bullshit.

Response by SSG (ret) William Martin made Jun 5 at 2015 9:36 PM

SSG (ret) William Martin — Fri, 05 Jun 2015 21:36:43 -0400

You can look at it like this, by people cheering, the graduation would probably last for a very long time. I can take any situation and articulate in away they people were disorderly and that is illegal in public. First amendment rights will not apply but of course, a judge might not support that in court.

Response by MSgt Private RallyPoint Member made Jun 8 at 2015 9:44 AM

MSgt Private RallyPoint Member — Mon, 08 Jun 2015 09:44:25 -0400

Here is an other article about cheering....found it interesting....guess now we censor cheering in the US who knew?

http://patch.com/illinois/joliet/former-joliet-resident-asked-leave-blackhawks-game-0

Blackhawks Fan Booted from Tampa Arena After Cheering for 'Wrong' Team | Joliet, IL Patch

Joliet, IL - Why? Victoria Greene cheered for the team and then was asked to leave. | Patch

Response by PO1 John Miller made Jun 12 at 2015 12:01 AM

PO1 John Miller — Fri, 12 Jun 2015 00:01:47 -0400

Political correctness is getting WAY out of hand in America!

Response by COL Private RallyPoint Member made May 6 at 2018 12:41 AM

COL Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 06 May 2018 00:41:12 -0400

It’s just you. Just like you can’t yell fire in a movie theater where there is no fire. You can’t yell bomb in the airport. You don’t have a right to infringe on the rights of others and the school said hold celebration till the end so everyone can hear the names. Good call on the charges.