LA High School student, Marielle Williamson is suing the school district and the USDA for silencing her criticism of dairy milk,
VegNews, May 10, 2023
● Ms Williamson is suing both her school district and the USDA for violating her First Amendment right to share information at school about alternatives to cow’s milk and the concerns about dairy consumption.
● PCRM (Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine) recently filed a free speech lawsuit on WIlliamson’s behalf in Los Angeles, with the US Federal court in California.
● Williamson, a HS senior, was told by her school that she could not share information about plant-based milk or be critical of the dairy industry in the school cafeteria, unless she provided pro-dairy content as well.
● In its lawsuit, PCRMalleges that the school district unconstitutionally discriminated based on viewpoint by prohibitingWilliamson from distributing information highlighting dairy’s negative impacts.
● The lawsuit argues that the government may not prohibit student speech based on viewpoint.
● Meanwhile Williamson reports that “Our school is riddled with pro-dairy posters and promotions”.
● Williamson further states: “The fact that a differing perspective from a student was shutdown goes to show that the USDA is more focused on milk sales than the well-being of students. This lawsuit was the only way to make people aware of how wrong this is”.
● By law, cow’s milk must be offered at every school lunch and breakfast served under the National School Breakfast and Lunch Programs.
● The National Institutes of Health estimates that 30 to 50 million American adults are lactose intolerant, including 95% of Asian Americans, 60 - 80% of African Americans and Ashkenazi Jewish people, 80 - 100% of Indigenous people and 50 - 80% of Hispanic people.
● Approximately 75% of the Los Angeles Unified School District population is Hispanic.
● By not providing appropriate beverages for these students sends the message that their school’s food programs are not meant for them.
● “The dairy industry has a stranglehold on our students and our school meal programs,” Deborah Press, associate general counsel for PCRM, said in a statement. “The USDA is so protective of the dairy industry that its policies
outlaw even the smallest amount of opposition to the deluge of pro-milk messaging in schools”. “It will do anything it can - even gag student speech- to continue foisting unwanted, unhealthy and culturally inappropriate foods on young people,” Press said.
The American Heart Association ranks the Keto Diet Last for Heart Health. VegNews, May 02, 2023.
● A scientific report published by the AHA (American Heart Association) in its journal “Circulation”, found that very low carb or ketogenic diets ranked last for heart health. Plant-based diets ranked at the top for heart healthy eating guidelines.