Ed. Note: Tina Deschenie and Harry Descheenie are not married, as incorrectly stated earlier.

A New Mexico public school district accused of violating the freedom of speech rights of Navajo employees has filed a countersuit against a Navajo couple and a local newspaper.

The countersuit accuses fired district-level administrator Tina Deschenie and Harry Descheenie of libel for publishing editorials in local papers. The Farmington Daily Times was named as a defendant.

Descheenie, who was the Bilingual Education director for the Central School District, and the other plaintiffs say superiors prevented them from speaking out about the need for bilingual education. The school district is 90 percent Navajo.

Get the Story:
Central Schools files counter lawsuit (The Farmington Daily Times 5/12)

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Navajos accuse N.M. school district of discrimination (01/09)
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