Motion argues Jenkins Independent School District violated parents’ free speech
LOUISVILLE, Ky. – The ACLU of Kentucky has filed a motion asking a federal court to stop the Jenkins Independent School District from continuing to ban Letcher County parent Elizabeth Jones from school property and school events while her lawsuit moves forward.
Jones, a mother of two children in the district, was first banned from school property in December 2025 after school officials claimed some of her social media posts “appeared to be harassment.” According to court filings, the district never identified which posts led to the ban at the time it was issued and did not accuse Jones of making threats or engaging in violence.
The school later agreed to modify the ban to allow Jones to attend certain events related to her children’s education, but she still cannot freely attend school activities and events open to the public.
The new filing asks the court for a preliminary injunction, which would temporarily stop the district from enforcing the ban while the case continues. The ACLU of Kentucky argues the district punished Jones for protected speech and violated her constitutional rights.
In the filing, the ACLU of Kentucky notes that Jones regularly attended her children’s sporting events and school activities for years without causing disruptions or breaking rules. The motion also states that the social media posts identified by the district included jokes, commentary, and photos from public school sporting events.
“Public schools do not have unlimited power to punish parents for speech they dislike,” said Bethany Baxter, staff attorney for the ACLU of Kentucky. “Ms. Jones was banned from her children’s school activities because officials disagreed with social media posts that were protected by the First Amendment. The Constitution does not allow the government to silence people or cut them off from public spaces simply because their speech is unpopular or offensive to some.”
Jones says the ban has deeply affected her family life, preventing her from fully participating in important moments in her children’s lives.
The lawsuit argues that the school district violated Jones’ First Amendment right to free speech.
The case is Elizabeth Jones v. Jenkins Independent School District, et al., in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Kentucky.
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