Mississippi School Board Banned Jewish Student From Wearing Star of David

[one...two...tree 2,762]

(this is from 1999)

GULFPORT, MS -- Facing an American Civil Liberties Union lawsuit and outcry from both Jewish and Christian leaders, a Mississippi school board last night rescinded a policy that barred a Jewish student from wearing his Star of David pendant because school officials considered it a gang symbol.

The Harrison County School Board voted unanimously to exempt religious symbols from its policy prohibiting students from wearing anything that could be viewed as a gang symbol.

The reversal comes two working days after the ACLU of Mississippi filed suit in federal district court, seeking protection of 11th grader Ryan Green's First Amendment right to religious liberty.

The ACLU said that the Star of David, a cross and other religious symbols are constitutionally protected forms of religious speech and that Ryan and other students at Harrison Central High School should not have to sacrifice their First Amendment rights under threat of school punishment.

"While we are pleased with the decision, it is regrettable that Ryan's religious freedom was violated for two weeks before the school board finally realized what the rest of the country already knew--that the Star of David is a religious symbol, not a gang symbol," said David Ingebretsen, Executive Director of the ACLU of Mississippi.

The controversy arose two weeks ago when Ryan and his father went to sign up for fall classes and a guidance counselor told Ryan that his Star of David had to be worn on the inside of his shirt "for his own good." To no avail, Mr. Green explained to the counselor that Ryan wore the pendant as a symbol of his family's Jewish faith.

http://www.aclu.org/religion-belief/jewish-student-allowed-wear-star-david-pendant-mississippi-school-board-reverses-pol

[PhiLandShiR 18]

I hope they also barr anyone from wearing a cross... even under their shirts.... Federally funded schools can not support any one religion over another.

Edited May 11, 2010 by PhiLandShiR

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

The reversal comes two working days after the ACLU of Mississippi filed suit in federal district court, seeking protection of 11th grader Ryan Green's First Amendment right to religious liberty.

[one...two...tree 2,762]

God Bless the ACLU. Where would we be without 'em?

[w¡n9Nµ7 §£@¥€r 123]

God Bless the ACLU. Where would we be without 'em?

Australia.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

God Bless the ACLU. Where would we be without 'em?

'

Where indeed... I expect you would brow beaten and subdued into adhering to a belief system you wanted no part of...

[SMOKE 1,426]

'

Where indeed... I expect you would brow beaten and subdued into adhering to a belief system you wanted no part of...

excuse me for asking. what book is that the ring in your siggy sitting on?

[Heracles 417]

Australia.

Okay then. You tell me one other first world country that not only praises the ACLU but actually recognizes it for anything.

God Bless the ACLU. Where would we be without 'em?

It's called the first world. Your ilk may want to check it out sometime, you might learn thing of two from these leaders in human development.

Edited May 11, 2010 by Booyah!

[PhiLandShiR 18]

excuse me for asking. what book is that the ring in your siggy sitting on?

The Encyclopedia Britannica, book D, opened to Darwin, Charles Robert (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882)

Why?

[SMOKE 1,426]

The Encyclopedia Britannica, book D, opened to Darwin, Charles Robert (12 February 1809 – 19 April 1882)

Why?

just making sure you weren't browbeating and subduing anyone into adhering to a belief system.

[PhiLandShiR 18]

just making sure you weren't browbeating and subduing anyone into adhering to a belief system.

Oh no Smoke, never

Confíteor Smoke omnipoténti et vobis, fratres,

quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo, ópere et omissióne:

mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa.

Ideo precor beátam Smoke,

omnes Angelos et Sanctos, et vos, fratres,

oráre pro me.

[SMOKE 1,426]

Oh no Smoke, never

Confíteor Smoke omnipoténti et vobis, fratres,

quia peccávi nimis cogitatióne, verbo, ópere et omissióne:

mea culpa, mea culpa, mea máxima culpa.

Ideo precor beátam Smoke,

omnes Angelos et Sanctos, et vos, fratres,

oráre pro me.

english only outside the regionals phil. whats it say anyway?

[PhiLandShiR 18]

english only outside the regionals phil. whats it say anyway?

Its a quick hack of a Latin prayer. Brow beaten into me while surviving 6 years of Catholic School..

[Jenn! 918]

Did they really think the star of David was a 'gang symbol'?

[JohnSmith2007 353]

Did they really think the star of David was a 'gang symbol'?

Maybe this is their idea of a "gang".