Father sues school for punishing son over 'Let's Go Brandon' shirt

In March 2025, Richard Conrad, a father from Ohio, filed a federal civil rights lawsuit against Madison Local Schools alleging that his eighth-grade son, C.C., faced harassment and punishment for wearing a 'Let's Go Brandon' T-shirt. The incident stemmed from a series of events, starting in November 2024, when C.C. wore the shirt beneath a flannel, leading a teacher to cover the shirt and warn him about its implications. The school administration later formally addressed the matter with C.C., indicating that the phrase was interpreted as a vulgar expression. The situation escalated, culminating in detention for C.C. in March for repeated violations of the school's dress code. The lawsuit contends that this action violates C.C.'s First Amendment rights regarding freedom of speech. According to the legal documents, the teacher and principal acted against C.C.'s free expression, and their interpretations of the shirt’s message were flawed. Throughout the events, C.C. consistently complied with school guidelines but continued facing sanctions that were not applied uniformly, as other political messages within the school remained unchallenged. The case raises critical questions regarding the scope of free speech in educational environments. Conrad claims that the 'Let's Go Brandon' slogan symbolizes a political stance rather than a vulgar expression, asserting that it reflects the opinions of a segment of the population regarding media and politics. He emphasizes that criticism of the president is a fundamental aspect of political speech protected by the First Amendment. The school district has not made specific comments regarding the ongoing litigation but is aware of the situation. This legal action situates itself within a broader dialogue about students' rights to express political views freely in schools without facing administrative repercussions. Advocates argue that schools must not selectively enforce dress codes, highlighting the discrepancy between how different political messages are treated among students. Thus far, the lawsuit has gained attention, prompting discussions surrounding the importance of protecting students' expressive freedoms and evaluating specific policies that could possibly suppress such expression.