NC School District Pays $95,000 to Settle Student Speech Suit, Adopting New Free Speech Policy
Updated
Updated · Fox News · Jun 15
NC School District Pays $95,000 to Settle Student Speech Suit, Adopting New Free Speech Policy
1 articles · Updated · Fox News · Jun 15
Summary
$95,000 will go to Gabby Stout’s legal team under a settlement requiring Charlotte-Mecklenburg schools to publicly state she did not vandalize Ardrey Kell High School’s spirit rock.
The agreement also requires a new free speech policy and a formal statement within 15 days saying Stout’s September 2025 tribute to Charlie Kirk violated no school rules and was never referred to police.
Stout sued six months ago after school officials painted over her Bible-verse message, accused her in a schoolwide notice of unauthorized vandalism, and pulled her from class during an investigation.
The lawsuit argued the district retaliated against protected religious speech and applied a double standard, citing the school’s earlier acceptance of Black Lives Matter messages on the same rock.
Stout said the settlement clears her name after months of ostracism and online threats, while her lawyers cast it as a warning that schools cannot suppress student viewpoints they dislike.