A Gavel Project Testimonial
"The time is always right to do what is right." - Martin Luther King, Jr.
Below is a testimonial from one of the many folks The Gavel Project is fighting for and, in so doing, is fighting for the freedoms of all. Litigation is costly, and we need your support. Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today by visiting our website: thegavelproject.com.
Thank you to all that financially support The Gavel Project—making our fight for justice possible.
On January 31, 2022, my sixteen year old daughter decided that she was not going to wear a mask to school anymore. The day before, Governor Gavin Newsom sat in a football stadium surrounded by 70,000 unmasked people enjoying a playoff game. Seeing photos and videos of that scene online, my daughter realized immediately that she was no longer going to participate in the charade being played out in California schools.
I spent the next week speaking to attorneys on the phone and parents in social media groups trying to navigate the situation unfolding at my daughter’s school regarding her refusal to wear the mask on campus. She had been removed from all instruction, bullied by administrators/teachers and left outside in the cold while on campus for 8 hours each day (she had an extended school day due to a performing arts program she was enrolled in). She was the only child protesting in the district, and they were determined to stop her.
During the hours of online research I conducted looking for help, I came across The Gavel Project’s website. I was unfamiliar with the organization but was thrilled to see their request for people to submit stories about their situation to be considered for representation. I had just three hours before the submittal deadline would occur. I filled out the form and anxiously awaited a response.
Within a few days, I received a call from Ryan Heath, founder of The Gavel Project. He said he had read my submission and was interested in helping us navigate this situation. Within a few days, Ryan connected me with Tracy Henderson, a California attorney. I had already spoken with Tracy during the initial days of my daughter’s protest and I was thrilled to be connected with her again. Between Ryan and Tracy, I was provided guidance on information to provide to the Board of Trustees, administration, teachers, and parents. Ryan flew out to San Diego several times and spoke on our behalf at a school board meeting and met with other parents interested in standing up. He stood alongside me outside the school at morning drop-off to encourage other students to take off their masks and inform them of their rights.
For the 5 weeks of the protest that occurred after my initial interaction with Ryan, he was readily available by text and phone to help me immediately with the situation at hand. He spoke to the police officer that gave my daughter a trespassing violation for showing up to school after she was given an unwarranted suspension by the principal as the situation was unfolding. He helped my daughter and I feel confident in what we were doing and that the law was on our side.
A lot has unfolded in the year since the protest started. Last August, we filed a lawsuit against the district for violating my daughter’s right to protest, her right to an education and for the verbal and emotional abuse she endured during the 6 week ordeal.
This was never going to be easy, and they were never going to admit they were wrong, but I am beyond blessed to have crossed paths with Ryan Heath. I cannot express my gratitude for all the support he has given my family and will continue to give as this case proceeds.
Nicole Ward
Picture of Ryan and G.W. protesting outside of Coronado High School—early March, 2022.
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The Gavel Project is a 501(c)(3) public charity, donations are tax-deductible.