Students Fight School's "Jesus Candy" Suspension

( CHARISMA) -- Several students from a Boston-area high school have been suspended for distributing candy
canes with a Christian note to their classmates at Christmas. According to "The Boston Globe," seven
Westfield High School students will appeal the one-day suspension, accusing school officials of violating their
rights to free speech and expression.

Mary Etta Grabowski, whose 16-year-old son, Stephen, is co-leader of the school's Bible Club, said: "I think
it's kind of ridiculous how far it's gone over a little piece of paper and kids wanting to wish their friends a merry
Christmas. I'm proud of my son because I've taught him to stand up for what he believes in, and he's doing that
even though it's costing him something."

Stephen: "No matter what they do, we're not backing down. We really believe that Jesus Christ is Lord, and
we're prepared to fight. They picked the wrong people to step on." School administrators have said the issue
is not religion, and they were only adhering to a policy that bars students from passing out non-school-related
literature on campus."

Stephen told the "Globe" that "maybe we'll ask them to change the policy. There's a possibility we'll file a
lawsuit." The group had distributed the candy canes in the past.