Mary Beth Tinker started the Tinker Tour so she could travel around the country and promote youth voices, free speech and free press. Tinker enjoys motivating students about speaking up because at the age of 13 she wore a black armband to school to protest the Vietnam War, which in her case, was not supported by her school.

“A few hours after school started, I was sent out of algebra and told to remove my armband by the vice principal.” said Tinker. “I did, but was suspended anyway.”

Tinker didn’t want to just sit around and do nothing, so she decided to stand up for what she believed in. Not only did the Tinker case go all the way to the Supreme Court, but they won. This experience showed her that you should stand up for what you believe in.

“The goal of the Tinker Tour is to bring real-life civics lessons to schools and communities through my story and those of other young people,” said Tinker.

Mike Hiestand, an attorney for the Student Press Law Center, is joining Mary Beth on her Tinker Tour. He has been writing about her case for a long time now, and has decided to join her so he could help people realize that they can stand up for themselves.

Hiestand and Tinker (pictured right) are teaching students to speak up for what they think is right.

“Students don’t shed their rights when they go to school,” said Hiestand. “They have their first amendment rights and I don’t know that students today know that.”

Hiestand and Tinker  are trying to effect students to help them make a difference and change something by speaking up for what they want, even with one small action.

“In the end our small actions made a big difference,” said Tinker.

Photos taken by Isabella Davis