Laura, an 11-year-old fifth-grade student in Washington State, was not allowed to start an interfaith prayer group at her elementary school. A week prior, instructors had approved the creation of an LGBTQ Pride group, which prompted her decision to form one.
Laura, a Creekside Elementary student, told “Fox News @ Night” that she had been feeling isolated in both her classroom and the school as a whole.
Laura suggested starting an organization to unite people and perform community service. This was after she talked about her feelings with other friends who felt the same way.
Laura claimed the interfaith prayer group welcomed all students, regardless of religion.
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“I think that this is something that I am very passionate about. I wouldn’t be here if I didn’t really want to make this happen, if I didn’t think that it would be a great opportunity for everyone,” Laura said.
Laura, along with an anonymous student, and their parents are being represented by First Liberty Institute. First Liberty Institute is a nonprofit Christian legal group. They have written to the leaders of the Issaquah School District about the event at which Laura was not allowed to form the interfaith group.
“Denying the formation of a religious student club while allowing other clubs violates the Constitution,” Kayla Toney, Associate Counsel at First Liberty Institute, said.
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“School officials at Creekside Elementary are engaged in religious discrimination against an eleven-year-old girl who simply wants to pray, feel support from other religious friends, and do community service.”
Laura and her mother reportedly met with the Creekside principal in February to discuss forming an interfaith prayer club. During the meeting, the principal stated that all funding for school clubs had already been allocated.
This was done in October, he claimed. However, a Pride club had only been allegedly launched a week prior to the meetings.
Creekside Elementary School is located near Bremerton High School in Washington. Bremerton High School made headlines when Coach Joe Kennedy was fired. The reason was to pray on the football field after every game.
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However, the Supreme Court ruled in Kennedy’s favor, emphasizing that the First Amendment protects students and employees who express their faith in public schools. Kennedy was eventually reinstated to his position.
“The Court in Kennedy explained that… the First Amendment ‘doubly protects religious speech.’ These First Amendment protections extend to elementary school students expressing their sincere religious beliefs through voluntary clubs. Yet the school district flouted its First Amendment obligations when they refused to allow a student-led interfaith prayer club. Its unlawful action violates both the Free Exercise Clause and the Free Speech Clause,” the letter from First Liberty states.
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