Allyson Barrera is an 11 year old girl in 5th grade who was unjustly expelled from St. Martin de Porres Marianist school in Uniondale NY.

Allison had an argument with a classmate at school and this classmate pulled her hair during school hours. There were no consequences applied to the classmate for this incident. 

When Allison arrived home from school, she sent a voice message to another classmate telling him what happened and expressing how she felt after this incident. Unfortunately Allyson used words in that audio that are not suitable for a 11 year old girl, and this classmate forwarded the audio to other friends from their school until it fell into the hands of the mother of the classmate she had the argument with and she took it to school. Immediately Allyson was expelled from school.

Allyson and her family were denied the right to tell their side of the story before the school made a decision.

What happened with Allyson is totally unconstitutional, although Allyson's actions are not justified, her First Amendment Rights were completely discarded. It was also not directed at any student, it was her telling her side of the story to another classmate. Even if the words were inappropriate, Allyson is still protected under freedom of speech.

The fact that the matter occurred outside the school was also not considered, Allyson did not disrupt the school in any way.

This serious matter, is bringing emotional distress and anxiety to Allyson, she has been feeling embarrassed and humiliated after she apologized in a letter that her parents brought to the school, but she was not heard.

St Martin de Porres Marianist School didn't consider the emotional consequences that such an expulsion can bring to the future to an 11-year-old girl.

Please help us get justice in Allyson’s case!