A Rhode Island high-school student suspended twice this year for wearing a White

Zombie T-shirt appeared before the state Board of Education on Monday to try to clear

his record. The case was adjourned until early January.

Robert Parker, a 16-year-old junior at Westerly High School, in Westerly, was suspended

for a day in both June and September for wearing the alternative-metal band's T-shirt,

which featured the number 666 and a devil figure.

According to the American Civil Liberties Union of Rhode Island, which is handling

Parker's appeal, he was suspended in June because Westerly assistant principal Jim

Spellman thought the "666" -- a sign of the devil to some Christians -- could cause a

disruption if anyone took offense at it. In the second suspension, the ACLU said, the

assistant principal also cited a school rule prohibiting clothing that is "cult or gang

related."

"The mere fact that some administrators don't approve of the '666' is no reason to

prevent him from exercising his free-speech rights," Steven Brown, executive director of

the Rhode Island ACLU, said on Tuesday (Dec. 22).

Spellman, who initiated the suspensions, referred all inquiries to principal James

Murano, who was unavailable for comment by press time.

Parker, citing claims the school violated his free-speech rights, that its dress policy is

unconstitutionally vague and other factors, is seeking to have the suspensions stricken

from his school record.

During Monday's session in Providence, hearing officer Paul Pontarelli took testimony

from Parker and his mother, Brown said. The school will be given a chance to testify

when the hearing reconvenes in early January.

Parker's case is one of several in the past year in which people have been suspended or

arrested for wearing T-shirts related to heavy-metal bands.

In Kentucky, a woman was fined $250 in April for wearing a shirt with the phrase "I am

the god of f---," taken from shock-rocker Marilyn Manson's song "Cake And Sodomy." A

judge is expected to rule on the woman's appeal next month.

Students at Zeeland High School in Zeeland, Mich., were suspended in March for

wearing the T-shirts of such bands as Korn and Manson.

In the Rhode Island case, Brown said, "Robert's worn all sorts of other T-shirts and not

had a problem. Including a Marilyn Manson T-shirt -- go figure."

He said Parker was not aware of any fellow students ever being suspended for any type

of T-shirt.

White Zombie broke up earlier this year. Leader Rob Zombie (born Rob Straker)

released a solo disc, Hellbilly Deluxe, which includes the single

HREF=http://www.addict.com/music/Zombie,_Rob/Dragula.ram>"Dragula"

(RealAudio excerpt), in August.