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When Brandi Levy took to Snapchat to express her frustration over not making her high school’s varsity cheerleading team, she never thought her action would end up in a United States Supreme Court case.

In a legal battle spanning four years, Levy and her family fought for student free speech rights in the digital age. The case garnered national attention and sparked debate over social media regulation.

Syracuse University’s Tully Center for Free Speech hosted Levy for a conversation about the court case and its impacts. The Thursday evening event was Levy’s first public appearance at a university to speak about her experiences with the justice system and First Amendment rights.

Roy Gutterman, the Tully Center’s director, said Levy’s is a landmark case, citing its importance in addressing a new era of free speech. He said the lawsuit was two cases in one, as it dealt with major legal questions surrounding both free speech and social media.

In 2017, Levy, then a freshman at Mahanoy Area High School in Pennsylvania, posted a private Snapchat story when she was upset about not making the varsity cheerleading team. The photo, captioned “F*ck school f*ck softball f*ck cheer f*ck everything,” was taken off-campus but it quickly circulated throughout the student body. The image eventually made its way to the school district and Levy was suspended from cheerleading for being “disrespectful.”

Levy and her parents believed her First Amendment rights were violated and sued the district.

“I’m kind of glad that I did it, only because it also shows other kids what’s right and what’s not, like what schools can or can’t have a say over,” Levy said.

The United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, which has jurisdiction over Pennsylvania, ruled in favor of Levy, but the school appealed that decision. In 2021, the U.S. Supreme Court sided with her in an 8-1 decision. It found the school district had overstepped its authority by disciplining Levy for her off-campus speech.

At Thursday’s event, Gutterman said speakers like Levy help facilitate deeper conversations about free speech and the stories behind court cases.

“It’s great to bring somebody in to show the campus these people behind the cases exist,” Gutterman said. “When we read these cases in the book and pictures, they’re just case names, but they’re really people.”

The conversation came amid further national debates over free speech and social media under President Donald Trump’s second administration. People across the country have recently protested against his administration’s actions against free speech, including earlier Thursday at a “Hands Off!” rally on SU’s campus.

Levy shared the personal challenges she faced during the legal proceedings. She said the entire process was nerve-wracking for her, like when she had to face a jury and justify her actions as the school district’s attorneys questioned her.

She said she felt scared during the cross-examination while the school’s counsel tried to prove she had acted disrespectfully, but support from her father helped calm her nerves.

“He was kind of always just there on my shoulder,” Levy said. “Telling me that, ‘It’s gonna be okay, that you’re doing this for a good reason, for a good cause.’”

Sydney York, a graduate student studying public democracy and global communication, helped organize the event as part of her work as a research assistant for the Tully Center.

York said she was moved by Levy’s willingness to help other people and described the case as an inspiring story about standing one’s ground. She said she hopes other students take inspiration from the court’s ruling and its implications about the importance of free speech and personal freedoms.

“The students benefit the most,” York said. “It’s really good to know about your rights and how far does school get to dictate what you can do outside.”

Though she’s been dubbed a “free speech hero” and advocate, Levy said the attention and spotlight from the case was unexpected and confusing for her.

Levy said she received multiple messages of encouragement — but also death threats. The case only happened in the first place because she was young and frustrated, she said.

“I was just trying to be a kid,” Levy said.

Levy doesn’t regret the situation and wouldn’t change her past actions, she said. Despite struggling with the attention, she said she’s happy her case had a positive impact on students across the country and hopes it encourages others to use their voice.

“It’s okay to express yourself, and (know) that you’re not gonna get in trouble for saying how you feel,” Levy said.

Published on April 25, 2025 at 3:17 pm
Contact Sydney: sadepiet@syr.edu