Testimony Heard in Student’s Lawsuit Against High School

MARSHALLTOWN, Iowa (AP) — Court proceedings have begun in a lawsuit against the Marshalltown Community School District by a student suspended from playing football after authorities accused him of making a gesture denoting white power.

The Marshalltown Times-Republican reports that 18-year-old Blair Van Staalduine sued the district after he was suspended from playing in three football games for a photograph that school administrators say showed him wearing white and making a “W” with his hands.

The student’s attorney, Barry Kaplan, says the photo references a school event where students in Van Staalduine’s grade were encouraged to wear white to school that day. Van Staalduine denies the gesture referred to white power.

Van Staalduine and his family want to see his record cleared of any reference to disciplinary action. The school district hopes to see the case dismissed.