An appealed attempt by school district officials to ban breast cancer awareness bracelets bearing the message "I (heart sign) boobies" has been declined by the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, Reuters reported.
The two students who challenged the school's decision on free speech grounds have been handed the victory.
The court's decision not to take up the case means that an August 2013 ruling by the Philadelphia-based 3rd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals in favor of students Brianna Hawk and Kayla Martinez is left intact, Reuters reported.
Prior to national Breast Cancer Awareness Day in October 2010, seventh and eighth-grader students had been banned by school officials at Easton Area Middle School from wearing the bracelets.
According to Reuters, Hawk was in eighth grade and Martinez was in seventh at that time.
The bracelets are sold by a group called the Keep-A-Breast Foundation, which supports breast cancer awareness. The group has expressed support on its website for students who have worn the bracelets against the wishes of school officials.
Citing their freedom of speech rights, both girls continued to wear the bracelets and refused to remove them when asked. They were later punished by school officials by getting 1 ½-day-in-school suspension, Reuters reported.
"I'm very dedicated in fighting this because it's what I believe in. I do believe it's my freedom of speech," the girls said.
In a statement to ABC News, the school district's attorney said, "We're simply trying to enforce the dress code which prohibits attire or accessories that express a sexual double entrende."
The girls also initially were banned from the school's winter ball, although they were later allowed to attend. The school district eventually banned the bracelets from all schools.
In November 2010, through their mothers, the girls sued the school district in federal court. Preventing the school from disciplining students further for wearing the bracelets, the district court issued an injunction in April 2011.
According to Reuters, the case is Easton Area School District v. B.H., U.S. Supreme Court, 13-672.
