Jessica Ahlquist, Teenage Atheist, Wins Case To Remove Prayer Banner From Cranston High School

By Kimberly Winston
Religion News Service

(RNS) A federal judge ruled Wednesday (Jan. 11) in favor of a teenage atheist who sought the removal of a prayer banner from her Rhode Island high school.

Attorneys for Jessica Ahlquist, 16, argued that a banner on display in Cranston High School West's auditorium titled "School Prayer" and addressing "Our Heavenly Father" is a violation of the Constitution and the Supreme Court's 1962 decision banning state-mandated prayer in school.

Lawyers for the school district argued that the banner had hung in the school since the 1960s and was more secular than sacred.

U.S. District Judge Ronald Lagueux disagreed and ruled that the banner should be removed immediately. He also upbraided school officials for holding community meetings about the mural that "at times resembled a religious revival." At one meeting, several school officials read from the Bible or declared their faith. Ahlquist needed a police escort to leave one meeting.

"I am hopeful that this case can be looked back on in the future and encourage others to stand up for their rights as well," Ahlquist said from the Providence office of the American Civil Liberties Union, which represented her.

Ahlquist had to leave Cranston High School West due to threats, but said she is considering a return.

Rob Boston of Americans United for Separation of Church and State hailed the ruling as "a 40-page slam dunk."

Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, praised Ahlquist. "She fought for the rights of nonbelievers and religious minorities and is an example for everyone."

Comments

[northdak1]

01:48 AM on 07/02/2012

1 Corinthians 2:2
For I determined not to know any thing among you, save Jesus Christ, and him crucified.


Most important factual reality for earth's humanity is what Jesus did when he died on the cross at Calvary and then rising from the dead he paid the penalty for lost mankind and also mankind's sin debt to God Almighty.



That really is Good News! Salvation Purchased By God Thru The Shed Blood Of The Lord Jesus Christ!

[Glowing Windchime]

07:00 AM on 05/13/2012

I think it's good that she won, and that is very, very, VERY sad that all those self-claimed christians violate the content of the prayer and of the christian spirit by threatening her for having different beliefs. To all those people who threaten her: You are NO christians. You are self-absorbed hypocrites that have never grasped Jesus Christ true message.
In a way, even though she is an atheist, she is more of a christian than those of her school that identify as such and antagonize her.

[Adam Dray]

06:33 PM on 04/26/2012

"Ahlquist had to leave Cranston High School West due to threats, but said she is considering a return."

Sorry toots you screwed yourself! I strongly doubt they will ever forget what you did, and for good reason. It's about more than religion it's about tradition and these little whiners complaining they're civil rights are being violated SIMPLY cause they 'don't like it' is pathetic! Get over it! She left the school cause of threats...so why didn't she just leave the school instead of forcing them to change tradition? Or just don't partake! it's not like her grade or education was being effected! Worse yet, she now cost the school money (they had to have representation and defense in this case), so now those new computers or books are a no...and she cost herself money (i hope anyways) in a time of bad economy and makes you wander what kind of person this girl really is. It's quite..pathetic

[DrumminD21311]

09:07 PM on 05/08/2012

She didn't have to pay anything. The town of Cranston had to pay her lawyers : ) She won. Obviously her civil rights WERE being violated. The judge said so. Read a book.

[apelcart]

03:20 PM on 09/03/2012

@ AdamDray You want "Tradition"? Slavery was a "Tradition" . So was Stoning a woman who wanted out of a physically brutal "Marriage". It took the "Tradition" of the Catholic Church until about 10 years ago that the Earth actually rotates around the Sun instead of the Sun rotating around the Earth.

[ArtifexMayhem]

06:07 PM on 04/14/2012

"There goes many a ship to sea, with many hundred souls in one ship, whose weal and woe is common, and is a true picture of a commonwealth, or human combination, or society. It hath fallen out sometimes, that both Papists and Protestants, Jews and Turks, may be embarked on one ship; upon which supposal, I affirm that all the liberty of conscience I ever pleaded for, turns upon these two hinges, that none of the Papists, Protestants, Jews, or Turks be forced to come to the ship’s prayers or worship, nor compelled from their own particular prayers or worship, if they practice any."

- Roger Williams, the founder Rhode Island, who left the Massachusetts Bay Colony in pursuit of religious liberty.

As quoted by Judge Lagueux's ruling in reference to same as quoted by the Supreme Court in Schempp(1963).

[Ziggy111]

09:14 PM on 03/14/2012

I just wonder what this girl really won. So sad that the simple secular prayer was offensive just because it said "our heavenly Father". The truth is, atheism is not about community....they are only about themselves. Everybody loses.

[jan77]

10:06 PM on 03/14/2012

Right. She "won" nothing actually. Its more like an "unrecognized " loss. Pray she later does recognize the "Actual Prize".

[Ziggy111]

11:46 AM on 03/15/2012

I agree exactly. It's all so very sad. Yesterday, several of my comments were blocked.....I suppose christian language is more offensive than secular language. So, I'm using the language that 'they' can understand! 'm just wondering how many other christians get blocked. The atheist.org are very busy doing some really outrageous stuff just to advance their own ideology. Their world would be about 'communism'.....no love, no warm fuzzies, just about self. They would re-write our bible if we let them! Their latest billboard was the new low.

[bajesa]

04:25 PM on 03/18/2012

The Constitution won. We The People won. You claim that atheism is not about community, but I would say instead that the banner supporters are not about community. By posting and defending a banner that clearly excludes non-Christians, banner supporters demonstrated that they're not interested in promoting community the student body as a whole, for both Christian and non-Christian students. Their idea of "community" is take a position that Christians are "right" and others should conform.

[Ziggy111]

10:41 PM on 03/19/2012

Yes, I get your opinion is the established atheist opinion. I also get that you can only see by your narrowed viewpoint. If you researched this further, you would have learned that students from all religions accepted this prayer....as they considered it generic. No one else was offended, only this girl and the atheist organization behind her. It was mainly to prove a point. No other people but the "atheist' said they 'won'. So, really this was for the atheist only. Sometimes winning is not about winning...and this is a perfect example. One day she will wake up and realize the 'atheist movement' just using her.
Interestingly, I've traveled all over the world and I've noticed in today's society, most people go by the philosophy of 'live and let live' except the atheist movement....they seem to be offended by anything that is not of their view point.

[hemogobblin]

02:51 PM on 02/22/2012

This girl is a member of my state and it sickens me to look at the amount of death threats she's gotten just because she disagrees with something. Our own state representative was throwing petty insults at her. How can you argue that your religion makes you a peaceful person when you go and say (or support people that say) things of that nature to a sixteen year old child? Any Rhode Islander that is okay with that is an embarrassment to the rest of us.

[bjustin]

08:38 PM on 02/20/2012

I see a lot of christians finally realizing the point now. So does this mean you'll understand when they remove 'god' from money?

[ljwynn14207]

06:48 AM on 02/12/2012

Congrats on that victory......Prayer and religions does not belong in public schools, or any public gathering...we are not a christian nation, but a a nation of many!!

[NannyG]

02:31 PM on 03/13/2012

Dear God, why is there so much violence in school? signed Concerned Student..

Dear Concerned Student, I'm not allowed in school. signed God

When I grew up we said a prayer to start the day and the pledge of Allegiance & no one ever brought guns to school and killed their classmates and teachers. Somehow by taking away these small things and others like discipline our youth is headed down a sad path.

[Jason N]

03:06 PM on 04/02/2012

Dear Confused poster, "You are allowed to pray to me at any time during the day at school, I'm confused why you think I'm not allowed."

Signed,
God

[Michele Belin Beulah]

10:11 AM on 02/09/2012

Christians need to learn how to fight. The weapons of our warfare are not carnel but might in God to the pulling down of strongholds. Stop fighting people and fight in the spirit. That's where our strength lies.

[joyofliving]

05:07 PM on 02/06/2012

I wonder who is going to now stop Congress from having a chaplain? A chaplian who opens sessions with a prayer. Is the American Civil Liberties going to take Congress on next? Oh yes, while they are at it, they better petition to change the American Dollar. Aren't they bothered by the "In God We Trust" words on the dollar bill they handle each day? Might as well go for everything while they are at it. Perhaps they can keep going and remove all state legislature chaplains too. It will surely keep the ACLU busy for the next couple of hundred years.

[crowepps]

08:26 PM on 02/21/2012

Since at the time the chaplain says his prayer, most of the members of Congress aren't even present, I don't see where it creates a huge problem. Particularly since the 200 year old tradition of having a chaplain pray that the members of Congress be imbued with wisdom, a focus on the good of others, and concern for the common welfare without an iota of difference in their behavior is pretty conclusive proof that prayers aren't answered.

[wakeupyouall]

12:56 AM on 01/29/2012

why are christians always forcing their belief and prayer on others It is very inappropiate in a public high school setting. Our country has a diverse religious community. Religion does not belong in our public schools it is against the law.

[caseyshebascott]

03:42 PM on 01/28/2012

Its sad. The state botched the defense. By stating that the banner was not religious but historical, they punted. Logically this gave it less credence, for if it was truly just a historic or even cultural, then, like other historic relics, it could be seen as obsolete and of no intrinsic value.
The proper defense would have been to admit that it was in part religious. But that it does not violate the separation of church and state, because it made no endorsement, which is the key.
Apparently, from what was reported, only Ahlquist protested. She, therefore, was acting as a bully. forcing those who disagreed with her, to take down a banner that has a long history at that school. The rights of the majority are trumped by the bully tactics of one. This is not what humanism is about, it is not ethical. She played into a stereotype of an atheist as stubborn, angry, and demanding. Cowarice from religious and judicial leaders allowed her selfish act to continue.

[DrumminD21311]

09:09 PM on 05/08/2012

A bully? How is making use of the courts (that agreed with her by the way) being a bully? A justice of the South African Supreme Court said to me this semester "Human rights are not created to protect the majority, they are created to protect the minority."

[andrewmook]

12:59 PM on 01/27/2012

A CHRISTIAN RESPONSE from a Rhode Island pastor:
http://sanctuaryprovidence.com/2012/01/19/cranston-west-prayer-banner/

[Bill Strowder]

12:18 PM on 01/27/2012

The way many "Christians" are responding to this development gives Christianity a bad name.

[Matt Juba]

12:03 PM on 01/27/2012

The prayer sign should be hanging in a worthless church with the rest of church junk. Religious people have to realize they can't have their cake and eat it too. People of religion are always pushing their views on society. If I want to hear about fantasy, I will attend church.