Student Punished for Refusing Handshake from Gov

When
Massachusetts Governor Mitt Romney visited a public school in small-town
Winchendon which had recently been declared "underperforming" by the
State Board of Ed – he was soundly booed by students. Several held signs.  One
even refused to shake the Gov’s hand. Righteous and respectful Constitutionally
protected political protest, no?

read the
original Thursday Globe report on the protest:

With a nearby banner proclaiming, "Welcome Governor Romney," one
student refused the governor’s handshake, and others toted small, handwritten
signs of protest, including one that read, "I am the underperformer."

"I proudly booed and yelled `phony,’ " junior Sarah Mungeam
said. "He
didn’t come here to help us. He came here to look good for his public
relations."

Today’s
Globe brings the news that the students involved in prosesting
the visit from the Republican budget-cutting, businessman-turned-politician
have been punished with suspensions. Guess they decided Freedom of Speech
doesn’t apply when it disses the Governor.

Jacob Whitney said he was given a three-day suspension for refusing
to shake Romney’s hand, a gesture he said he meant as a joke. Whitney,
18,
said he offered a hand to Romney when the governor met students after
his speech, but pulled it away when Romney extended his own hand.
He said he then patted Romney on his shoulder and said, "Just kidding," and
the two laughed.

from the
Boston Globe