Just wanted to quickly update the story about Emma Sullivan, the Shawnee Mission East senior who was browbeaten to apologize for her #HeBlowsALot tweet about governor Sam Brownback. At first, she was going to issue the apology. Today she changed her mind.
According to the AP:
KANSAS CITY, Mo. - A Kansas teenager who wrote a disparaging tweet about Gov. Sam Brownback is rejecting her high school principal's demand that she apologize.
Emma Sullivan told The Associated Press on Sunday that she's not sorry and an apology letter wouldn't be sincere.
I've been following the comments on this story at Kansas.com and the Kansas City Star and even Republicans have been critical of Brownback's office and their outrageous overreach. Nice to know this young woman is staying true to herself and not issuing an apology that was coerced from her.
UPDATE---
Kansas.com has the full AP story and it includes a bit more information:
The situation exploded after Sullivan's older sister contacted the media. Since then, Sullivan's following on Twitter has grown to about 3,000 people, up from about 65 before the tweet. She said she thinks the tweet has helped "open up dialogue" about free speech in social media.
"I would do it again," she said.
I was interested in what her parents have to say about this, and the story includes a quote from Emma's mother:
"She wasn't speaking to the 3,000 followers she has now," Julie Sullivan said. "She was talking to 65 friends. And also it's the speech they use today. It's more attention grabbing. I raised my kids to be independent, to be strong, to be free thinkers. If she wants to tweet her opinion about Gov. Brownback, I say for her to go for it and I stand totally behind her."
UPDATE 2:
I'll add a bit of information about Emma's school: it's in a suburb of Kansas City and encompasses mainly middle-class neighborhoods and a couple of wealthy upper-class areas. The only criticism I've seen from wingnuts in the KC Star is that she's a 'Mission Hills brat' (they've been repeating this like it's a talking point, which it may well be. Mission Hills is a very wealthy community). I note that in the story her family lives in Fairway, which is a perfectly middle-class area but certainly not super-wealthy. Looks like the wingnuts will have to get a new talking point.
UPDATE: Included a video of an interview with Ms. Sullivan from a local KC station.
Update: Looks like a complete victory for Emma!
Statement from her school district:
"District officials have reviewed recent events surrounding the reported tweet by Shawnee Mission East High School student Emma Sullivan. The district acknowledges a student's right to freedom of speech and expression is constitutionally protected.
"The district has not censored Mis Sullivan nor infringed upon her freedom of speech. She is not required to write a letter of apology to the Governor. Whether and to whom any apologies are issued will be left to the individuals involved.
"The issue has resulted in many teachable moments concerning the use of social media. The district does not intend to take any further action on this matter."
And, best of all, an apology from Governor #blowsalot:
“My staff over-reacted to this tweet, and for that I apologize. Freedom of speech is among our most treasured freedoms.
"I enjoyed speaking to the more than 100 students who participated in the Youth in Government Program at the Kansas Capitol. They are our future.
"I also want to thank the thousands of Kansas educators who remind us daily of our liberties, as well as the values of civility and decorum.
"Again, I apologize for our over-reaction.”