Current Tonight | January 15, 2012 | 7 comments

Teenage Atheist Wins Case to Remove Prayer Banner from Cranston High School West

source: http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/01/14/judge-prayer-banner-high-school_n_1205627.html

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EthicalVegan
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Jessica Ahlquist, Teenage Atheist, Wins Case To Remove Prayer Banner From Cranston High School


First Posted: 1/14/12 08:47 AM ET Updated: 1/14/12 04:55 PM ET


By Kimberly Winston
Religion News Service

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(RNS) A federal judge ruled Wednesday (Jan. 11) in favor of a teenage atheist who sought the removal of a prayer banner from her Rhode Island high school.

Attorneys for Jessica Ahlquist, 16, argued that a banner on display in Cranston High School West's auditorium titled "School Prayer" and addressing "Our Heavenly Father" is a violation of the Constitution and the Supreme Court's 1962 decision banning state-mandated prayer in school.

Lawyers for the school district argued that the banner had hung in the school since the 1960s and was more secular than sacred.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lagueux disagreed and ruled that the banner should be removed immediately. He also upbraided school officials for holding community meetings about the mural that "at times resembled a religious revival." At one meeting, several school officials read from the Bible or declared their faith. Ahlquist needed a police escort to leave one meeting.

"I am hopeful that this case can be looked back on in the future and encourage others to stand up for their rights as well," Ahlquist said from the Providence office of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented her.

Ahlquist had to leave Cranston High School West due to threats, but said she is considering a return.

Rob Boston of Americans United for Separation of Church and State hailed the ruling as "a 40-page slam dunk."

Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, praised Ahlquist. "She fought for the rights of nonbelievers and religious minorities and is an example for everyone."

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7 comments // Teenage Atheist Wins Case to Remove Prayer Banner from Cranston High School West

  • TanzaniteDiamonds
  • EthicalVegan
  • RevKen
    • +2
      RevKen  

    • For everyone that likes to claim that a banner such as this is not about any one religion, I would like to ask this: why is it mostly christians that want to keep the banner up?

    • 4 months ago
  • Varex_Sythe
    • +1
      Varex_Sythe  
    • RevKen:

      Mostly Christians? Are there some Wiccan who also want to keep this banner, or perhaps some Buddhists (though I am of the opinion that Buddhism is less of a religion and more of a philosophy)?

      Edit: I'm not trying to be an ass to you, I'm just pointing out that how you worded your statement, "mostly christians," is amusing because I find it difficult to see people strongly opposed to the removal of this religious banner who were not christian.

    • 4 months ago
  • RevKen
    • +1
      RevKen  
    • Varex_Sythe:

      I would be willing to bet that most of the people that want to leave this banner up would be christians. I would go further in saying most of the wiccans or buddists are likely in a group that would not care.

      Of course this is only my opinion that is based upon years of trying to understand people of different religions

    • 4 months ago
  • Varex_Sythe
  • EthicalVegan
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