***UPDATE at bottom of story

A young man attending Towson High School in Baltimore, Maryland is currently unable to recite a poem at his senior talent show because his poem topic is about the “black lives matter” movement. His piece did not contain anything offensive but the principal of the school claimed it was too controversial and an attack on police. It does not contain any type of hate speech. Allowing him to perform this will help others raise awareness of important social issues and create path to talk about issues in America in a non-judgmental conversation for all to voice their opinion.

According to Marcus Shaw, the student:

“My principal Charlene DiMino declined my admission to the performance. She called it offensive and an attack on the police. During my meeting to review the poem, she could not articulate which lines were offensive but instead invited Towson’s SRO (school resource officer) into her office. Then they both explained to me that the poem could not be performed at the senior talent show because of, what they described as, the overall offensive tone of the poem. Mrs. DiMino then went on to imply that my lack of relationship with police officers could be the reason why I wrote such a poem until she learned of my grandfather’s 33 years of service as a police officer with the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. She never took the time to give constructive criticism. Instead, the meeting left me feeling frustrated, censored, and helpless because I had no further recourse. I was not instructed, but rather derailed from the very thing I’m taught in my enrolled program.”

Unfortunately, this is only one example of the censorship of people of color in America. Fortunately we can make a change. Click below to watch and listen as Shaw performs his poem and click HERE to sign the change.org petition to allow him to recite his poem at the talent show and to support his right to freedom of speech.

One of his classmates said that she disagreed with his stance, but that she would “defend to the death, [his] right to say it”. Regardless of your opinion, this is a case of a constitutional right to freedom of speech.

I implore you to remain open minded, watch this video, and sign/ share this PETITION.

Here’s the poem: