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(Spotsylvania-AP) -- A national anti-abortion group is upset that a Spotsylvania County school principal ordered students to remove their anti-abortion T-shirts.

Erik Whittington, co-founder of Rock for Life, says a 14-year-old Spotsylvania County middle school student was initially permitted to wear the shirt on Tuesday, a day the group had chosen for its "National Pro-Life T-Shirt Day" campaign.

The girl also distributed about 40 of the shirts at Battlefield Middle School.

The shirt features a picture of a four-month-old fetus in the womb, along with the words, "Do you 'really' believe this isn't a baby?" The shirt also reads, "Abortion is homicide."

Rock for Life is is part of the Stafford County-based American Life League.

Spotsylvania School Superintendent Jerry Hill says the principal took action after students began debating abortion in a class. He says principals can bar clothing that causes a disruption.

Hill says that students at two other Spotsylvania schools wore or distributed shirts with little or no problem.

(Copyright 2004 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)

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Date published: 4/30/2004

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