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[quote=Anonymous]Anyone suggesting these students are "complaining and doing nothing" is so unbelievably full of it.

From Facebook:
[quote]Hi MoCo parents! I need your help to stop MCPS from silencing student journalists by signing and sharing this petition: https://c.org/4Tmts8jLzT

My name is Pritish Mukherji and I'm a student journalist at Richard Montgomery High School.

On March 19, 2026, MCPS Chief of Schools Dr. Peter Moran circulated a memo requiring school administrators to review and approve every single article published by student newspapers before it goes to print. This blanket censorship policy gives principals the power to edit and kill stories, even when those stories are about the administrators themselves.

On Friday, June 12, 162 student journalists and newspaper advisers from all 25 MCPS high schools sent an open letter to MCPS leadership demanding answers and questioning the legality of the policy. They are calling for MCPS to immediately return to the prior Board-approved policy concerning student expression that protects student press freedom in full compliance with Maryland law.

They have been backed by legal experts, a professor at UMD, and six national free press organizations.

The Washington Post covered their call to action: https://wapo.st/3S0X7Tq

MCPS has not responded to us directly, but spokesperson Liliana López released a PR statement to the press. She said:

"Nothing in the memorandum interferes with student journalism or imposes prior restraint."

This is shamelessly false — and 6 national journalism organizations agree. Unbelievably, the MCPS spokesperson added that they "remain so proud of our student journalists."

If they really are "so proud" of our work, then MCPS needs to back off, allow us to keep producing it, and revoke the censorship memo immediately.

Here's how you can help: Please take 2 minutes out of your day and share this petition (https://c.org/4Tmts8jLzT) with five people you know. Anybody can sign this petition: Non-journalists, parents, teachers, and community members.

Want the complete details? Read the student journalists' open letter at the Student Press Law Center: https://splc.org/2026/06/maryland-students-call-for-withdrawal-of-prior-review-memo/

The letter fully breaks down Maryland's New Voices Act and explains exactly why MCPS' memo is inconsistent with the law.
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