Press Statement
For Immediate Release: 5.16.23
Contact: Peyton Luke, media@firstliberty.org
Direct: 972-941-4454
First Liberty Institute Statement Regarding Biden Administration’s Guidance for Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Schools
Washington, DC—The following statement regarding “Guidance on Constitutionally Protected Prayer and Religious Expression in Public Elementary and Secondary Schools” issued by the Biden Administration may be attributed to Keisha Russell, Counsel to First Liberty Institute:
We respect that the Biden administration acknowledges the important religious liberty rights of public school employees as the Supreme Court declared in its Kennedy decision last year. However, the administration’s new guidance relies on old propositions derived from the overturned Lemon decision. We commit to ensuring that any restriction placed on the religious freedom of public school students and teachers by those outdated cases is restored to the fullest extent required by the First Amendment.
Last year, the U.S. Supreme Court upheld the right of former high school football coach and First Liberty Institute client Joe Kennedy to take a knee in quiet prayer after football games even if he can be seen by students and the general public. Importantly, the decision respects the Constitutional rights of all public-school teachers and coaches to engage in a brief, personal prayer in public.
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About First Liberty Institute
First Liberty Institute is the largest legal organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to defending religious freedom for all Americans.
To arrange an interview, contact Peyton Luke at media@firstliberty.org or by calling 972-941-4454.
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