Student will sue to wear necklace cross

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COLORADO SPRINGS, Oct. 11 (UPI) -- Attorneys for a Colorado Springs middle school student say they will sue the principal for not allowing the pupil to wear his necklace cross outside his shirt.

Lawyers for the American Center for Law & Justice sent a letter to the principal of Mann Middle School in Colorado Springs' District 11 saying not allowing the student to wear his rosary violates his constitutional rights, The Gazette newspaper of Colorado Springs reported Monday.

Spokeswoman Elaine Naleski said the district allows all religious symbols, including crosses, head scarves worn by Muslims, the Star of David, to be worn openly except the Catholic rosary because it's sometimes used as a gang symbol.

"This is a case where our client should not be punished for his religious expression and speech," said Ed White, an attorney at the American Center for Law & Justice in Washington.

If Mann Middle School doesn't respond to the letter by Oct. 19, and rescind its policy allowing the student to wear his rosary, White says a federal lawsuit will be filed, The Gazette said.