Plano, TX- Federal Judge Michael H. Schneider has just issued a judgment against Plano Independent School District in the case of S.W.A.T. v. Plano ISD.
“Discrimination against students or their student group because of their faith is not the law, it is illegal”, said Kelly Shackelford Chief Counsel of Liberty Legal Institute. “Religious student groups have the same rights and benefits as every other student group.”
S.W.A.T., a student group brought suit for being denied equal access to the same benefits as all other student groups, including a posting on the website.
After the suit was filed, Judge Don D. Bush issued a recommendation for a Prelimary Injunction April 21, enjoining the District from any further discrimination and ordering that the District provide equal benefits and privileges to S.W.A.T. He referred to the District’s actions as a “flagrant” violation.
“I wish I could say the District hopefully learned their lesson and will stop violating the law”, said Shackelford. “Unfortunately, I know they are still fighting the rights of numerous students on the Morgan case (“candy cane case and letters to soldier’s case”) and so we have more work to do.”
This lawsuit was filed in Federal District Court in Sherman, the same Court in which Morgan et al., v. Plano ISD is currently in litigation. That case resulted when a student was prohibited from distributing religious-themed gifts, including candy canes.
“How many rulings is it going to take to get the district to sit down with us and stop these violations,” said Shackelford. “I don’t know.”