District sued after snubbing Bible club

[Shammu]

District sued after snubbing Bible club
Student group not allowed to list group with others
Posted: March 21, 2006
1:00 a.m. Eastern


© 2006 WorldNetDaily.com

A Christian student group in Texas filed a lawsuit against a public school district, claiming it was denied privileges due to its religious nature.

Students Witnessing Absolute Truth, or S.W.A.T., which focuses on Bible study, was barred from posting an organizational description on the "Campus Programs" section of the website of the Plano Independent School District in suburban Dallas, according to Liberty Legal Institute, a public-interest group in the state defending the group.

"Federal law and the U.S. Constitution require Plano ISD to treat all non-curricular clubs the same and provide equal access to web pages, meeting spaces, bulletin boards and PA announcement," said Hiram Sasser, Liberty Legal's director of litigation.

In the lawsuit – filed in federal court in Sherman, Texas – S.W.A.T. asks that its free speech rights be honored by allowing it to post a short, organizational description alongside the other listings of student groups on campus.

As WorldNetDaily reported, Liberty Legal is involved in another suit against the district in which a student was prohibited from distributing religious-themed gifts, including candy canes.

In the S.W.A.T. case, Sasser pointed out, the website specifically is designated as a listing of all student groups offered within the school.

"By banning only the religious group, Plano ISD is in direct violation of the First Amendment and The Equal Access Act," he said.

Sasser charged the case "further emphasizes that Plano ISD has no respect for the law, the First Amendment or even the students."