The attorney for the Bow, N.H., school district compared free speech to “poison” in his argument before a federal court Wednesday.

Jonathan Shirley, attorney for SAU 67, is defending the district’s decision to ban parents from wearing pink wristbands marked with “XX” in a silent protest of biological males in girls sports.

The district’s actions were upheld by United States District Court Judge Stephen McAuliffe in a controversial ruling that appeared to defend the government’s right to discriminate against speech based on viewpoint. In his ruling, McAuliffe labeled wearing the pink XX wristbands as a form of “assault” on people who identify as transgender.

Parents Anthony Foote, Kyle Fellers, Nicole Foote, and Eldon Rash are appealing the decision, which was heard by a three-judge pa

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