The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that a Washington school district can ban a former coach from praying on the field after football games.
Joseph Kennedy, the school’s former football coach, sued the Bremerton School District after alleging his rights were violated when the district banned him from praying in the middle of the football field after games ended, according to the court’s ruling.
“Kennedy’s attempt to draw nationwide attention to his challenge to the District showed that he was not engaging in private prayer,” the three-judge panel ruled. “Instead, he was engaging in the public speech of an overtly religious nature while performing his job duties.”
Judge Milan D. Smith wrote Kennedy told the district he intended to keep praying and would solicit local and national media coverage to advance his case. In some instances, parents, local community members and players from both football teams would rush onto the field and join Kennedy in his prayers.
Attorneys representing Kennedy said the ruling was “wrong” in a statement. (RELATED: Indian Nations University Student Paper Editor Sues School For Restricting Speech)
“Banning coaches from praying just because they can be seen is wrong and contradicts the Constitution,” First Liberty Institute’s General Counsel Mike Berry said in the statement. “Today’s opinion threatens the rights of millions of Americans who simply want to be able to freely exercise their faith without fear of losing their job. We plan to appeal, and we hope the Supreme Court will right this wrong. This fight is far from over.”
https://dailycaller.com/2021/03/19/ninth-circuit-free-speech-religious-liberty-bremerton-school-district-football-coach-praying/
When does the shooting start?
IDIOCRACY IS A DOCUMENTARY
The Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals ruled Thursday that a Washington school district can ban a former coach from praying on the field after football games.
Joseph Kennedy, the school’s former football coach, sued the Bremerton School District after alleging his rights were violated when the district banned him from praying in the middle of the football field after games ended, according to the court’s ruling.
“Kennedy’s attempt to draw nationwide attention to his challenge to the District showed that he was not engaging in private prayer,” the three-judge panel ruled. “Instead, he was engaging in the public speech of an overtly religious nature while performing his job duties.”
Judge Milan D. Smith wrote Kennedy told the district he intended to keep praying and would solicit local and national media coverage to advance his case. In some instances, parents, local community members and players from both football teams would rush onto the field and join Kennedy in his prayers.
Attorneys representing Kennedy said the ruling was “wrong” in a statement. (RELATED: Indian Nations University Student Paper Editor Sues School For Restricting Speech)
“Banning coaches from praying just because they can be seen is wrong and contradicts the Constitution,” First Liberty Institute’s General Counsel Mike Berry said in the statement. “Today’s opinion threatens the rights of millions of Americans who simply want to be able to freely exercise their faith without fear of losing their job. We plan to appeal, and we hope the Supreme Court will right this wrong. This fight is far from over.”
https://dailycaller.com/2021/03/19/ninth-circuit-free-speech-religious-liberty-bremerton-school-district-football-coach-praying/
When does the shooting start?
IDIOCRACY IS A DOCUMENTARY
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