According to the New York Post, a federal judge declared that a school district in Pennsylvania must let a Satanist club meet, referring to the club’s first amendment rights. Judge John M. Gallagher penned in a filing that the Saucon Valley School District disregarded the After School Satan Club’s free speech liberties after the district revoked its agreement allowing the club the meet at the school, reports the Morning Call.
The club’s approval was withdrawn earlier in the year after the promotional flyers caused an uproar within the Lehigh Valley community. The club is sponsored by the Satanic Temple. According to the Hill, in March, the national ACLU, the ACLU of Pennsylvania, and Dechert LLP sued the district on behalf of the Satanic Temple, reports The Post.
“Here, although The Satanic Temple, Inc.’s objectors may challenge the sanctity of this controversially named organization, the sanctity of the First Amendment’s protections must prevail,”
said the Judge.
Although Judge Gallagher denied the school district’s belief that the club went against the advertising rules and regulations, he banned the satanic club from giving out permission slips and flyers because the school didn’t allow the practice anymore.
The flyer read,
“HEY KIDS! LET’S HAVE FUN AT AFTER SCHOOL SATAN CLUB! SCIENCE & COMMUNITY SERVICE PROJECTS! PUZZLES AND GAMES! NATURE ACTIVITIES! ARTS AND CRAFTS! SNACKS! & TONS OF FUN! PARENTS, YOUR CHILD WILL LEARN… BENEVOLENCE & EMPATHY, CRITICAL THINKING, PROBLEM-SOLVING, CREATIVE, EXPRESSION, PERSONAL SOVEREIGNTY, COMPASSION”
The ruling stated that the school district must let the
“After School Satan Club meet on three previously selected dates at Saucon Valley Middle School in aptly named Hellertown,”
reports The Post. The first meeting is scheduled for next week.
Reports added that the group doesn’t worship satan as an evil being; however, they utilize the symbol as a representation of free thought and will.
#Clique, what are your thoughts?
