Issues@Hand

AFA initiatives, Christian activism, news briefs

February 2015 – The Liberty Institute became involved after a high school student’s Christian club proposal was denied by Wantagh High School in Long Island, New York.

When the principal claimed Christian clubs were illegal, sophomore Liz Loverde calmly informed her about the Equal Access Act – a law passed in 1984 that prohibits discrimination against religious speech in public schools and provides protection for student initiated and student led meetings.

The Liberty Institute and volunteer attorneys at Bancroft, PLLC, sent a demand letter and three days later announced the school’s decision to recognize Loverde’s right to form a faith-based club, Dare to Believe, with the same rights that every other club received.

“It took a lot of courage for a 15-year-old girl to come forward,” said Jeremy Dys, senior counsel with Liberty Institute. This came just weeks after another New York School, Ward Melville High School in East Setauket, issued a similar denial before backtracking and allowing a Christian club.

libertyinstitute.org, 10/10/14; 11/20/14; 11/24/14