Native Student Alleges Freedom of Speech Violation by Burney High School Principal
Honeygirl McCloud says her freedom of speech was violated earlier this month when her principal told her she couldn’t use a quote referencing violence against Indigenous women. The district did not confirm or deny those allegations but says that she will be allowed to use her original quote.
12.21.23 9:09 am: The story was updated to reflect newly shared tribal-affiliation details.
12.13.23 10:08 am: The story has been updated to clarify that Honeygirl McCloud and her aunt Maria McCloud say they have not yet received direct confirmation from the school or district that the original quote will be allowed.
In mid-November Honeygirl McCloud, a senior at Burney Jr. Sr. High School, was doing what many high school seniors across the country were doing, preparing to have her senior photo taken and selecting a quote to be published next to her photo in the 2023/24 yearbook.
McCloud, a Quartz Valley Indian Reservation Tribal Member who is part of the Karuk tribe as well as a descendent of the Pomo, Wintu, and Atsuge band of the Pit River Tribe, says she was surprised when her quote, “MMIW (Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women),” was initially rejected by her principal, Ray Guerrero.
Shasta Scout was unable to confirm or deny that allegation via Guerrero, who did not respond to two emails and a phone call last week.
A review of district policies and the California education code indicates that McCloud and other students’ right to freedom of speech is protected in the choice of their senior quote so long as that quote isn’t “obscene, libelous, or slanderous.”
According to McCloud, Guerrero originally refused to let her use the quote saying it was “really negative.” After some discussion, she says he told her she could use “MMIW” but would need to change the second portion of the quote, a decision she objected to.
McCloud’s MMIW quote is a reference to a movement intended to draw attention to the high numbers of missing and murdered Indigenous women in the United States. According to a 2016 study by the National Institute of Justice more than four in five (84.3%) Native and Indigenous women in the United States have experienced violence in their lifetime.
In a Facebook video about the incident posted by her aunt Maria McCloud, on November 16, Honeygirl McCloud said her mother is among the many Indigenous women who have been murdered, making her choice of quotation both personal and political.
Her right to use the full quote appears to be protected by Fall River Unified School District’s policy 5145.2 which states that, “free inquiry and exchange of ideas are essential parts of a democratic education” and indicates that the school board will respect “students’ rights to express ideas and opinions, take stands on issues, and support causes, even when such speech is controversial or unpopular.”
The District policy also quotes California law that protects students’ rights to free speech in the distribution of printed materials.
Guerrero’s boss, Fall River Joint Unified School District Superintendent Greg Hawkins confirmed last week by email that McCloud will be allowed to use her quote. He did not address whether Principal Guerrero had initially refused the quote instead telling Shasta Scout in a follow-up phone call that, “What you have is one side of the story and it won’t do me any good to tell you the other.”
Maria McCloud told Shasta Scout on December 13 that she reached out to the district on Monday, December 11, to confirm that Honeygirl McCloud will be allowed to use her original quote but has not heard from anyone at the school or district confirming this. A school administrator confirmed for Shasta Scout on the morning of December 13 that Maria McCloud’s request for information was given to Hawkins earlier this week. Shasta Scout is still pending a response from Hawkins on whether he has confirmed with the student or family that she will be allowed to use her original quote.
A Facebook video of Honeygirl McCloud speaking about the incident has been viewed over 10,000 times. Maria McCloud expressed how proud she is that her niece is speaking up and bringing attention to Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women.
“This is a very small community,” Maria McCloud said, “and for [Honeygirl] to go this way and talk to the other students and raise awareness, it was a great way to get [information] out there [about MMIW]. We thank everyone for the encouragement, Honeygirl is super brave.”
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Any chance Shasta Scout might shine a light on this very under reported problem by doing a story about local Native American women who have gone missing or been murdered?
That’s a really really great idea. Adding to our editorial calendar for discussion.
I stand in support of Honeygirl MCcloud for what is important to all Native People.
My Grandmother, (Wiyot) was murdered.
There were four other murders on her sister’s side. No one was ever brought to justice. Equal justice for all?
Good for her to be using her voice in such a good way!
Correction honey girls is a Quartz Valley Indian Reservation tribal member
Thanks for your note. We’ll reach out to her for confirmation.
Interestingly, enough, this type of language is not allowed on Facebook. While I agree with the young lady, she should be allowed to use this language. The teacher by disallowing her to is merely following in the footsteps of the liberal left, and not wanting to use hateful and hurtful speech. Algorithms would suggest that she could have used other words to describe the plight. Again, while I agree with her. It would appear, the teacher was following liberal indoctrinated protocol! Or, does that only apply to other people?
Boogey man = Liberal Left
I applaud this young lady for protecting hers and every students’ rights.
?? The NMMIW movement is all over Facebook and other social media and I’m not sure how correctly identifying a group of victims could be twisted into “hurtful or hateful”, I think you are just jumping on an opportunity to use a RW talking point about a teacher and troll. It was the principal that denied her right. According to McCloud, Guerrero originally refused to let her use the quote saying it was “really negative.” After some discussion, she says he told her she could use “MMIW” but would need to change the second portion of the quote, a decision she objected to. I wonder which of the words bothered him? Missing, Murdered, Indigenous or Women?
Hi Jon. This language is used on facebook, commonly.