6 Types of Attacks on Religious Liberty in our Schools that must be stopped

Here are some of the outrageous and illegal violations of religious rights in the schools that have either already been defended and restored, or are in the process of restoring for people of faith:

JUDGE THREATENS TO JAIL GRADUATION SPEAKER—BUT SHE WINS

In 2011, a federal judge threatened Angela Hildenbrand, a model high school student and valedictorian, with jail if she prayed during her graduation speech.

On June 3, 2011, the U.S. Court of Appeals for the Fifth Circuit overturned the judges’ ruling, allowing Hildenbrand to offer a prayer during her graduation speech and permitting her to exercise her constitutional right to freely express her religious beliefs.

Students, parents or concerned adults are encouraged to call Liberty Institute at 972-941-4444 if they hear of anyone being threatened for expressing their faith at graduation.

SCHOOLS TURNS OFF GRADUATION SPEAKER’S MICROPHONE—THEN PAY THE PRICE

When high school senior Remington Reimer began to talk of the Constitution and his faith in his valedictory address, school officials shut off his microphone, prohibiting him from exercising his free speech and religious liberty rights. Liberty Institute stepped in to help, and the school district superintendent issued a formal apology.

OFFICIALS BAN PRIVATE RELIGIOUS GREETINGS AT CHRISTMAS—BUT STUDENTS WIN IN COURT
Public school officials told elementary school students they could not give gifts at a “winter break” parties that contained religious messages, including candy canes and “Jesus” pencils.

In addition, a school principal confiscated tickets to a religious play that a student distributed to her classmates during recess, even threatening to call police and “kick [her] out of school” if she subsequently distributed the materials on campus.

Liberty Institute won a victory in federal court, which affirmed the rights of these students. Later, a federal court issued a ruling, which warned that in the future, school officials may be liable for any similar violations.

SCHOOL TELLS CHEERLEADERS TO TAKE BIBLE VERSES OFF BANNERS—COURT SIDES WITH CHEERLEADERS
In an effort to share positive and uplifting messages with their football players, the middle school and high school cheerleaders in Kountze, Texas, made a decision to paint Bible verses on run-through banners at games.

Their inspirational signs were suddenly banned after the superintendent received a complaint letter from the Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF).

In May 2013, after Liberty Institute intervened, a court granted the cheerleaders a victory. After losing its case against the cheerleaders, Kountze Independent School District appealed the case.

COLLEGE TELLS COED TO TAKE OFF HER CROSS—THEN APOLOGIZES

An official at Sonoma State University told student Audrey Jarvis to remove her remove her cross necklace at an event where Jarvis was representing a student organization. He claimed the University’s chancellor had a policy against wearing religious items and said the cross necklace “might offend others” After intervention from Liberty Institute attorneys, the university issued a formal apology to Audrey Jarvis.

ELEMENTARY SCHOOLS TELL KIDS NOT TO READ BIBLE OR PRAY—NOW FACE LEGAL ACTION
• At Carillon Elementary School in Oviedo, Florida, a school employee told 5-year-old Gabriella Perez to stop praying as the girl bowed her head over her lunch to pray, telling the girl “it is not good” to pray.

Liberty Institute has taken legal action asking school officials apologize and assure their community that such illegal religious discrimination will never happen again.

• A teacher at Park Lakes Elementary School in Ft. Lauderdale, FL, sternly ordered a 5th-grader to stop reading his Bible during free reading time.

She told him, “Put it on my desk!” The teacher then left a voicemail for the student’s father, telling him that “those books” (meaning books like the Bible) were not allowed in “her classroom.” Liberty Institute has sent a letter to the school demanding they apologize and restore the students’ clear constitutional rights.

KNOW YOUR RIGHTS OR LOSE THEM!

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