Pro-Life Group Wants Apology From Downingtown After Abortion Protest Incident

DOWNINGTOWN, PA -- A pro-life group representing the teens involved in the controversial abortion protest at Downingtown STEM Academy in April is asking the school district for an apology. In a letter sent to the superintendent Wednesday, the Alliance Defending Freedom also asked the district to "explain the constitutionally protected freedom" of the protesters to the student body, in the wake of a school official's controversial confrontation with the pair.

Zach Ruff, dean of academics and student life at the school and a teacher of both advanced placement European history and advanced placement psychology, was placed on leave after he cursed and yelled at the protesters. The pro-life pair, teenagers Conner and Lauren Haines, were waving graphic anti-abortion signs at students leaving school on April 21.

“No one should ever be harassed and berated by a government employee on a public sidewalk simply for peacefully engaging in one of the most common free speech activities,” said Kevin Theriot, an attorney with Alliance Defending Freedom who is representing the protesters and their parents. “The severity of this situation, as easily seen in the video, makes what we are requesting of the school district so necessary. This can never happen again, and the school district should ensure that both Conner and Lauren—as well as anyone else who would engage in protected free speech—feel confident that it won’t.”

In a letter sent to the school district, Theriot described Ruff's treatment of the teens as "assault and battery," and cited legal precedent, where presenting a menacing attitude, and touching someone on the elbow, had led to charges of assault.

In addition to an apology and acknowledging that Ruff violated their rights, the pro-life group wants the school district to promise the Haines family that their rights won't be violated again.

The incident has sparked outrage from both sides of one of the most contentious debates in American society today. Ardent pro-choice supporters have organized 45,703 signatures, as of Friday afternoon, in support of Ruff. Ruff's supporters say he was trying to protect his students from the graphic rhetoric and imagery on the posters being held by the protesters, one of which included a dead, bloodied fetus.

Supporters of Ruff further say that the protesters were exceeding their free speech by waving the graphic signs in front of school children, while Theriot says this is protected by the First Amendment.

The school district has not yet responded to the pro-choice group, but they did appear to side with Theriot's conclusion that the protesters had a right to be there.

>>Read the full letter submitted to the school district here

"(Ruff's) conduct does not represent the values of the school district or the respect we expect our employees to show for the civil rights of others," the district said.

Former students of Ruff are among those who have stepped forward to say he does not deserve to be fired, and that students who saw the signs were disturbed and felt harassed by the Haines siblings.

"How do you explain (signs like this) to children?" said Sandi L., a former elementary school bus driver.

>>36,000 Sign Petition In Support Of Downingtown STEM Dean

Caution: the video below contains graphic language.

Image via Downingtown Area School District