After a two year-long battle with administrators, a high school student at Harrison High School in Harrison, New York has secured official recognition for his Young Americans for Freedom chapter.
Luke Wong, a junior, worked with YAF and Alliance Defending Freedom to challenge his school’s decision. Each time Wong tried to gain recognition, he was given a different, arbitrary reason as to why the YAF chapter was not allowed. The administration was in direct violation of the First Amendment and Equal Access Act, discriminating against this conservative group solely for its conservative viewpoint.
After filing a FOIA request to obtain internal emails regarding the denial, YAF and ADF put Harrison High School administrators on notice on June 2, 2020 with a letter demanding the school cease its viewpoint discrimination, and allow the YAF chapter to form. The letter also demanded that the school adopt viewpoint-neutral policies that will ensure this behavior is not repeated in the future.
The newly formed chapter plans to hold its first meeting on January 19. Luke Wong and the Harrison HS chapter are a great reminder why students should PERSIST for freedom–and ensure their school upholds students’ constitutional right to freedom of speech. YAF congratulates Luke Wong on this accomplishment, and is excited to see all that the chapter accomplishes.
Are you interested in starting a YAF chapter on your campus? Get started here today.
