Posted on 08/04/2003 11:06:22 AM PDT by DPB101
The American Civil Liberties Union may go to court to before the new school year begins to block a new law requiring students to recite the Pledge of Allegiance.
The ACLU believes the law mandating that the pledge be said at the start of each school day is unconstitutional because it compels speech.
Students who object for religious reasons do not have to recite the pledge nor do those whose parents file a written objection for any reason. Students who are not citizens are also exempt.
However, the group is worried that students who opt out may be subject to harassment or punishment, ACLU state legal director Mark Silverstein said.
The ACLU has sent letters to several metro area school districts asking administrators not to take any actions against or treat differently any students who decline to recite the pledge, regardless of their reason. Several students and teachers are prepared to challenge the law on First Amendment grounds, according to the letter.
The new law goes into effect Aug. 6.
"Our position is very simple," said Sean Duffy, deputy chief of staff for Gov. Bill Owens. "The law was crafted and reviewed. Obviously the governor thought it to be legal and constitutional when he signed it."
Silverstein asked about eight districts to reply to the ACLU by Friday about how they intend to enforce the law.
Sues to overturn Colorado's Parental Notification for Abortion Act
Sues to ban the teaching of Intelligent Design
Sues to force taxpayers to fund abortions for prison inmates
Sues to ban student led prayer
Sues to tear down the Ten Commandments
Well maybe they too can have their own school like the homosexuals.../sarcasm
The ACLU is becoming a super-legislature. Any law liberals don't like, the ACLU goes to court. A google news search shows an astounding number of ACLU suits. Often on the same issue. If they lose in one jurisdiction, they try again in another.
Bingo. Judicial lottery. Try until you win. We need tort-reform - LOSER pays ALL costs - and possile damages for frivolous suits.
You know the history 4CJ, when did every law congress or the states passed start ending up in court? Or has it always been this way?
When was ACLU formed? 1920. It had Communist ties, which were allegedly shed in 1940. The ACLU is present in more cases than any other entity outside the federal government.
Must proofreed mor.
I believe you that they are in court more than anyone but the Feds. Related threads from the last 24 hours:
Utah ACLU hopes to find religion (needs help finding Ten Commandments monument it wants torn down) ^
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