Back To School: Court Ends Teen's Rap ExpulsionUPDATED: 12:42 pm EDT August 24, 2005 PITTSBURGH -- A federal judge issued a temporary injunction Wednesday, halting the expulsion of a 14-year-old student over a controversial rap song that he wrote.Though Anthony Latour's lyrics are violent, they do not contain "true threats" to physically harm anyone, U.S. District Judge Donetta Ambrose ruled Wednesday.Latour, 14, was kicked out of Riverside Middle School in May. Riverside Beaver County School District extended the ban to the upcoming school year, but Ambrose's ruling forces the district to readmit the boy in time for the start of classes on Aug. 31. Reaction from Latour's family: Tonight On Channel 4 Action News at 5 p.m. Earlier this year, Latour wrote a rap at home that names another student and includes references to guns, and he posted the lyrics on the Internet. Later, he was removed from class by North Sewickley Township police and charged with making terroristic threats and harassment.American Civil Liberties Union lawyers sued, claiming Latour's lyrics are protected speech and are only meant to challenge someone to engage in a rap "battle" and try to out-rhyme him.Ambrose said the school's case against Latour was weakened because officials did not take immediate action to investigate -- such as searching his locker, speaking to his parents or sending him to a counselor.Also, school officials didn't prove that the rap caused a disruption, Ambrose said.School district officials have not commented on the ruling.Charges against Latour stemming from the police case are still pending in juvenile court. Previous Story:
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