17-year-old Kendra Turner was suspended from Dyer County High School in Tennessee after telling a classmate “Bless you” after she sneezed.
The phrase was banned under the school’s policy that prohibited the use of religious speech in the classroom.
After saying ‘bless you’ she was sent to the principles office, and had to serve an in-school suspension for the rest of the day.
Several students have defended Kendra by making and wearing t-shirts with the words bless you written across the front of the shirt.
Kendra says she does not want to cause any trouble in class, but also defends her constitutional rights of freedom of speech and freedom of religion. She told reporters:
“It’s our constitutional right because we have a freedom of religion and freedom of speech”
