The Pennsbury School Board has been served with a U.S. District Court claim from four residents who charge that the body routinely infringes on their First Amendment rights. Rikki Schlott covered the action for Reason.

The Institute for Free Speech represents the plaintiffs.

The claim states that the school board routinely quells the expression of their viewpoints by shouting them down, implementing speech-restricting policies, and editing YouTube comments.

“The Pennsbury School District might be expected to teach Orwell’s 1984 as literature or social commentary — not use it as an instruction manual,” they assert.

The case cites numerous heated exchanges between the board and meeting attendees.

In one, Pennsbury Assistant Solicitor Pete Amuso (in attendance but not technically a board member) continually interrupts a gallery speaker by yelling, “You’re done!”

Alan Gura of the Institute for Free Speech wrote in a press release: “Pennsbury officials are trampling on the First Amendment rights of parents and residents. They have cut off parents … yelled over critics … edited remarks out of recordings … and intimidated speakers.”

Another plaintiff charged: “They have this smug attitude because they believe that if they’re elected and vote on something, then all power is inherent in them.

“Our lawsuit is challenging that entire premise.”

More on the Pennsbury School District legal action is at Reason.