Kountze Cheerleaders Applaud Texas Attorney General's Intervention Into Their Case Challenging School District's Unlawful Ban On Free Speech

Attorney General Greg Abbott Is Right: Cheerleaders' Banners Are Constitutional

KOUNTZE, Texas, Oct. 17, 2012 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today, Liberty Institute President Kelly Shackelford, on behalf of Kountze High School cheerleaders and parents, praised Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott's decision to intervene into the Kountze cheerleaders' lawsuit in order to defend the Texas Religious Viewpoints Anti-Discrimination Act.

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The State of Texas intervened in the case because the Kountze ISD legal filings question the constitutionality of state law governing students' voluntary expression of their religious views. The AG's petition argues that the position asserted by the school district in this case "misunderstands the Establishment Clause."  Moreover, the State of Texas agrees that the cheerleaders' "banners do not violate the Establishment Clause."

"We are thankful for the decision of Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott to oppose Kountze ISD's unlawful ban on students' private religious speech. Religious discrimination is wrong," Shackelford said.  "Greg Abbott again has proven that he is a friend of students and is willing to fight for their religious freedom."

Liberty Institute is a nonprofit legal group dedicated to defending and restoring religious liberty across America — in our schools, for our churches and throughout the public arena. Liberty's vision is to reestablish religious liberty in accordance with the principles of our Founding Fathers. For information, visit www.LibertyInstitute.org.

SOURCE Liberty Institute