A South Carolina ninth-grader is taking her desire not to say the Pledge of Allegiance to court.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Marissa Barnwell, 15,\u00a0also accused the teacher of pushing her against the wall in an effort to force her to say the patriotic recited verse.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The lawsuit claims that Barnwell was walking to her class when the teacher, Nicole Livingston, demanded she stop. Livingston then allegedly \u201cphysically assaulted\u201d Barnwell by shoving her into a wall and \u201cforcefully touching her in an unwanted way, without her consent, so that she would stop walking in recognition of the Pledge of Allegiance,\u201d the suit states.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Barnwell is a student at River Bluff High School, where Livingston is employed. At a press conference, Barnwell said she was \u201c\u201djust in disbelief\u201d\u00a0over Livingston\u2019s alleged actions, which included a trip to the principal\u2019s office.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
The school has students say the Pledge of Allegiance each day at 8:40 a.m., according to reports. But there is an option not to say it, as the school allows for \u201cnonparticipation in any form which does not materially infringe upon the rights of other persons or disrupt school activities.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Livingston is listed as a special education teacher on the school\u00a0website<\/a><\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n