T. Ellis Hodgin v. Thomas B. Noland, City Manager, Martinsville, Va., Individually and in Hisofficial Capacity

The appellant brought this suit against the City Manager of Martins-ville, Virginia, and others in authority, claiming that he was illegally discharged from his position as city librarian because of his participation in constitutionally protected activity. In the fall of 1968 Mr. Hodgin became an active participant in a concerted effort to achieve a change in the religious education program conducted in the local schools. This culminated in a lawsuit filed on July 18, 1969 challenging that educational program. The appellant was discharged within a week of the filing. He claims that the…