Jewish Student’s Pendant Permitted

A Jewish student told to hide his Star of David necklace at school may wear it freely, the school board in Gulfport, Miss., said in reversing its ruling that the pendant could be viewed as a gang symbol. The Harrison County School Board voted unanimously to exempt religious symbols from its policy prohibiting students from wearing anything that could be viewed as a gang symbol. Ryan Green, a junior at Harrison Central High School, had worn his Star of David pendant at registration and on the first day of school early this month. He was told to tuck it beneath his shirt because it could be viewed as a gang symbol. Ryan’s parents asked school officials to reconsider the policy, and the American Civil Liberties Union last week asked a court to strike it down. Facing increasing pressure, the school board met with members of the Jewish community and decided to reconsider.