1A in Action: Cindy Martin and Advocating for the Right to Speak at School Board Meetings

Cindy Martin wanted to read – not to herself, but to the school board. She and another member of the Mama Bears parents’ group in Forsyth County, Georgia, were upset that books they considered pornographic were available in school libraries.

They tried to read passages of the books out loud at board meetings. The board stopped them and banned one mom from attending the meeting.

Martin and the Mama Bears sued.

Editor's note: This profile is part of 1A in Action, an ongoing series that tells the stories of the people, groups and movements that bring the five First Amendment freedoms to life every day.

What’s at stake:

People have a First Amendment right to speak and bring concerns to elected officials.

Book bans and challenges are a big and controversial news topic. But parents have a right to voice their opinion on books and educational materials to school officials and elected school boards.

What happened:

A federal judge ruled that the Forsyth County School District violated the moms’ First Amendment rights by stopping them from speaking at a school board meeting. The school board had to change its restrictive rules on the public’s right to free speech and petition at board meetings.

Martin framed the check for $17.91 that the school district paid along with a copy of the Bill of Rights. The amount symbolizes the year the First Amendment was ratified: 1791.

What Cindy Martin says:

“We have incurred a lot of backlash from people who don’t agree with us. But guess what? We won for them as well,” Martin told Fox News. “This was for everyone to have the freedom to speak whatever they want to their government officials.”

Why it matters to you:

Whether you object to a book being taught in a school or adamantly oppose any form of book banning, you may want to express your opinion to the people who set and enforce educational policy. Voicing that position at a school board meeting is protected by the First Amendment.

Cindy Martin’s inspiration:

“There I was, 230 years later, joining with the Founding Fathers to defend and protect the First Amendment,” Martin recalled in a February 2024 interview with Freedom Forum. “When the First Amendment comes out on top, everybody wins.”

In recounting her struggle to speak in front of the school board, Martin invoked a common theme when talking about free speech rights that she believes others can live by: “I may not agree with what you have to say, but I will absolutely defend your right to say it.”

Thoughts from a First Amendment expert:

The Founders’ beliefs about First Amendment freedoms included the need for an informed and engaged public, contributing to regular discussion, review and engagement with public officials about public policy. They had confidence that out of "all voices being heard" we would arrive at the best possible policy or action for the greatest number of our fellow citizens — particularly at local sessions such as school board meetings.

— Gene Policinski, senior fellow for the First Amendment, Freedom Forum  

Learn more:

There’s a lot to learn about the freedom of speech, petition and the First Amendment. Here’s more about the freedom of speech and some of its limits. Here’s more on the freedom of petition. And here’s much more about the First Amendment.

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