news LA Student Sues High School Over Right To Promote Plant-Based Milks

[GraceRandolph]

A high school student in the US is suing her school district after she was told she couldn’t promote plant-based milk without promoting dairy alongside it. 
 

Marielle Williamson, 17, is a senior at Eagle Rock High school in Los Angeles. A vegan of almost three years, she asked if she could hold a day of action to highlight the issuesassociated with dairy milk, as well as promote the benefits of plant-based milk. The school administration told her she could only go ahead with the plan if she promoted the benefits of dairy. According to Williamson, this would “defeat the entire purpose of the campaign.”

 

She decided to join a lawsuit filed by Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine, a nonprofit that advocates for preventative plant-based medicine. Together, they are accusing the United States Department of Agriculture (USDA), Los Angeles Unified School District, and school administrators of violating her first amendment right of free speech.

“One of the biggest things we’re trying to do is to spread awareness to this information that is overshadowed by dairy industry propaganda,” she told Plant Based News(PBN). 
 

She added: “We’re also hoping that this will cause enough of an impact to change that federal law. And to hopefully allow for new legislation that mandates that any school participating in the National School Lunch Program require that plant-based milk is an option, regardless of intolerance, regardless of medical condition.”

 

In the US, it is mandatory for schools participating in the National School Lunch Program to serve dairy milk in cafeterias. They are also prohibited from “directly or indirectly restricting the sale or marketing of dairy milk on school premises.” The USDA website states that fat-free and low-fat milk “contain essential nutrients that kids need to grow and thrive.”

This is despite the fact that an increasing number of young people are moving away from fluid dairy milk. The New York Timesrecently described Gen Z as the “Not Milk generation” (a play on big dairy’s famous “GotMilk?” adverts). It was in reference to the fact that younger people are increasingly opting for plant-based alternatives on ethical or environmental concerns. 
 

Williamson has also highlighted that milk can have significant health costs for many of her classmates. “Some are lactose intolerant, some are grossed out by it, and it’s just so pushed on them,” she told PBN. “Not only do they not really have another option, if there is another option they’re discouraged. It’s almost hidden from them.”

 

Despite growing awareness of the costs of dairy, coupled with the health impact it has on much of the population, the government continues to give out billions of dollars in subsidies each year. 
 

“They are continuing to invest in an industry that is declining,” Williamson said. “And that is not benefitting anybody.”

[Power love]

 

It must be nice…

[vuelve88]

She's really milking this for all its worth. 

[GraceRandolph]

1 minute ago, vuelve88 said:

She's really milking this for all its worth. 

Queen of controversy. Madonna who?

 

Edited May 22, 2023 by GraceRandolph

[The7thStranger]

The dairy industry is one of the most repugnant industries on Earth. I don't love that I'm a part of the problem.

[Newt]

Anyone who puts an ounce of thought into the situation will realize these small fights against the evils of rampant capitalism accumulate and benefit us all. 

 

There's no legitimate reason why a school district or the law should be propping up big dairy 

[Tropez]

17 minutes ago, The7thStranger said:

The dairy industry is one of the most repugnant industries on Earth. I don't love that I'm a part of the problem.

Watch as all the dairy drinkers rush in here to attack you. 

[The7thStranger]

5 minutes ago, Tropez said:

Watch as all the dairy drinkers rush in here to attack you. 

They can try, but they won't change my opinion.  I hope plant-based alternatives improve in the future, because I would give up dairy if I could.

[Stimulus]

This does seem like a First Amendment violation. Hope the student wins the case.

[EnigmaticAndroid]

That's a pretty blatant restriction of free speech. The fact that it's a relatively trivial matter doesn't change the overall point. 

[Into The Void]

I mean why don't schools just offer almond milk or whatever. Its not that hard lol

[harwee]

She's going to win. That school is dumb for opening themselves up to this sort of lawsuits.

[gatito]

happy harvey milk day i guess

[arceus]

Milk only comes from mammals. So there's no such thing as plant-based milk 

[GraceRandolph]

1 minute ago, arceus said:

Milk only comes from mammals. So there's no such thing as plant-based milk 

Let me guess. You also believe coconut meat should be called coconut product? 

[arceus]

4 minutes ago, GraceRandolph said:

Let me guess. You also believe coconut meat should be called coconut product? 

Coconut kernel 

[midnightdawn]

So many big issues in the world today and she's worried about milk.

[GraceRandolph]

3 hours ago, midnightdawn said:

So many big issues in the world today and she's worried about milk.

Did you read the article before commenting? This is about the school restricting her freedom of speech. 

[Miss Show Business]

These threads

 

[GraceRandolph]

1 minute ago, Miss Show Business said:

These threads

 

Who cares? There’s nothing wrong with my threads. ATRL has users who care about these topics. 

[brooklyndaddy]

5 hours ago, arceus said:

Coconut kernel 

And trans women? 

[midnightdawn]

28 minutes ago, GraceRandolph said:

Did you read the article before commenting? This is about the school restricting her freedom of speech. 

Milk comes from mammals. She is wrong.

[GraceRandolph]

Just now, midnightdawn said:

Milk comes from mammals. She is wrong.

Why do you guys think pivoting to this is a strong argument? She is trying to raise awareness for the harms caused by the dairy industry and promote alternatives, but her school won’t allow it. Not everyone can digest dairy milk, you know?

[A Bomb]

4 minutes ago, midnightdawn said:

Milk comes from mammals. She is wrong.

Never ceases to be funny how nerds thinking being pedantic is convincing.