Speakers at hearing oppose ban on cheerleaders' religious banners

Posted Tuesday, Feb. 26, 2013 0 comments  Print Reprints
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KOUNTZE -- The school board listened to public comments on its decision to bar high school cheerleaders from displaying religious messages on banners at sporting events.

The board listened to comments for about 11/2 hours Tuesday night. KFDM-TV of Beaumont reports that 16 people spoke for lifting the ban while only one spoke against repeal.

The board took no action and scheduled none but said it would take written comments for 10 days.

The Kountze district in southeast Texas implemented the ban last year after a complaint by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, which is dedicated to church-state separation. Cheerleaders and state Attorney General Greg Abbott contend that the ban violates the students' free-speech rights, and a judge blocked the ban pending resolution of a foundation lawsuit.

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