Posted on 07/15/2014 7:30:04 AM PDT by SeekAndFind
A California school district has refused to apologize to one of its students for previously banning him from mentioning God in his graduation speech, saying instead that it has an "obligation" to prevent sectarian speeches.
Brooks Hamby, the salutatorian of Brawley Union High School in Brawley, California, made national headlines back in June when he ignored his school's attempts at censoring God from his graduation speech, instead giving an inspirational, Christian-oriented speech on the importance of standing up for one's beliefs.
Now, one month after the controversial speech went viral online, lawyers for the Brawley Union High School District say they will not apologize to Hamby for censoring religious references from his graduation speech, instead saying that the school has an "obligation" to remain secular during school functions.
"It is well established in the Ninth Circuit and California that a public school salutatorian has no constitutional right to lead a prayer or include sectarian or proselytizing content in his/her graduation speech," a ten-page letter from the San Diego-based law firm Atkinson, Andelson, Loya, Ruud and Romo reads, as reported by Fox News.
"The district was legally obligated to ensure prayers and other sectarian, proseltyzing content were omitted from Mr. Hamby's speech," the letter, addressed to the Liberty Institute, continues. "Censorship of the speech was necessary to avoid an Establishment Clause violation."
Hamby is being represented by the Liberty Institute, a legal group that is requesting the California school district issue an apology to the salutatorian and change its policy to ensure future graduating students will not face the same type of religious censorship.
Jeremy Dys, senior counsel at the Liberty Institute, told Breitbart News that his legal group was surprised by the school district's aggressive move to retain an outside law firm for its defense against Hamby and his lawyers' demand letter.
"I can't believe they've signed what appears to be at least a three-year contract," Dys told the media outlet, referring to the school's law firm. "It seems they're settling in for the long haul. They probably either see deep pockets in this school, or they're expecting a big payday at the end of all this."
Dys also spoke strongly of Hamby, who recently turned 18 and is slated to start college at Stanford University in the fall. "This is a really good kid," the lawyer said. "This young man has a very bright future; I think he's going to do great things down the road."
According to The Desert Review, Liberty Institute is still considering whether it will proceed with litigation against the school district. Hamby told the local media outlet that he was "shocked and surprised" by the district's 10-page letter, and that he sees the entire situation as a good learning experience.
"It's been a good learning experience for me," the student told The Desert Review. "Hopefully, it will inspire someone else to realize that it's OK to stand up for their religious freedoms and speak openly about their faith and not fear a school district, a school, or a school administrator. The message the school wants to give is that it is illegal. I find that unfortunate."
In the speech he delivered at his graduation in mid-June, Hamby encouraged his fellow classmates to stand up for what they believe to be right.
"In life, you will be told, 'No,'" Hamby said when he delivered the fourth draft of his graduation speech to his fellow classmates. The other three drafts had been rejected by school officials.
"In life, you will be asked to do things that you have no desire to do. In life, you will be asked to do things that violate your conscience and your desire to do what is right," Hamby continued. "Be the salt of the earth. Be strong and stand for your convictions and stand for what is right, what is ethical, what is moral and what is Godly, no matter what is the cost to you. Stand for what is good wherever you go and whatever you do."
We The People have an obligation to remove people that trample religious freedoms from their positions of power too. It’s sad that this nation now makes its decisions based on majority (real or potrayed for political purposes) / majority vote and not principle.
Did the demonic scum from the district happen to say why they had this “obligation”?
And at the Final Judgement, G-d says “ ..........”
Brooks Hamby must be a powerful speaker if mentioning God in one speech constitutes establishment of a state religion. It's no wonder Stanford University took him if he is that authoritative.
Considering that atheists don’t consider atheism to be a religion, and considering that the Constitution says “Congress ... Shall not prohibit the free exercise [of religion])”, maybe we could ban atheism. Would anyone seriously argue that this would be a bad precedent? Atheists are united in their attempts to ban Christianity, so it’s not like sensible people would lose any sleep over it.
Holy Trinity v. United States, 1892: “These, and many other matters which might be noticed, add a volume of unofficial declarations to the mass of organic utterances that this is a Christian nation.”
“Christianity, general Christianity, is, and always has been, a part of the common law of Pennsylvania.”
Laws establishing an atheist theocracy are in no way legitimate or what the Founders wanted.
**saying that the school has an “obligation” to remain secular during school functions. **
Because they get federal money? LOL! Where are their consciences?
A yes the G-word.. ranks right up there with the N-word
I’m fine with students talking about their religion in this situation (and others) as long as students of other faiths can do the same. How about a Muslim student delivering a speech on his devotion to the prophet Muhammed and Allah and extolling the virtues of Islam?
I come to this from experience in public schools being discrimanted against as a Catholic. Christiains are not always as tolerant to ‘freedom of religion’ as one might suppose.
Good thing he didn’t text “OMG” while a student.
A California school district has refused to apologize to one of its students for previously banning him from mentioning God in his graduation speech, saying instead that it has an “obligation” to prevent sectarian speeches.
Really? Perhaps they can show the young man the Article in the Constitution that states he as a citizen is obligated to prevent sectarian speeches. In fact I would love to see that documentation myself...........
Sorry read that wrong. Instead they can show him where it states that they have that obligation.
It is well established in the Constitution of these United States that a public school salutatorian has a Constitutional right to freely exercise their religion, and Congress cannot prohibit such.
The 9th Circus is dead wrong. As is California.
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