Eckhardt and the Tinker siblings wore black armbands to school in order to show that they were not in support of the hostilities happening in Vietnam.
Principals of schools in Des Moines were aware of the plan of the students and therefore made a policy that armbands should not be put on to school. Mary Beth, Christopher and John Tinker didn't liatwn.and wore the armabnss to school which led to their suspension.
