Upholding First Amendment Rights

Monday, the Supreme Court rightfully sided with a high school football coach, known as Coach Kennedy, in a First Amendment case about post-game prayers at the 50-yard-line. This decision is an incredible win for First Amendment rights and religious liberties, both of which are foundational to our great nation.

Coach Kennedy, an 18-year Marine veteran, was an assistant coach for the varsity football team at Bremerton High School in Washington. He started coaching in 2008, where he made a commitment to God that he would give thanks at the end of each game for the players and the opportunity to coach. At first, Coach Kennedy prayed alone. After a few games, students voluntarily joined him in the post-game prayers.

Seven years after Coach Kennedy’s first prayer, the superintendent sent him a letter informing him of the district’s investigation into whether he had appropriately complied with the school board’s policy on “Religious-Related Activities and Practices.” Coach Kennedy complied with the new guidelines, which stated that students could not engage in religious conduct. He began to pray alone again, but he requested religious accommodation from the district. The district denied this accommodation and stated that Coach Kennedy could only pray in private, away from view of any student or the public.

Unwilling to break his commitment to God, Coach Kennedy knelt alone to offer a brief, silent prayer of thanks at the 50-yard line, away from players and families. Two days later, the district placed Coach Kennedy on paid administrative leave and barred him from participating in any capacity in the high school football program.

Finally, justice has prevailed. Justice Neil Gorsuch wrote in the majority opinion that “both the Free Exercise and Free Speech Clauses of the First Amendment protect expressions like Mr. Kennedy’s.” He went on to say that “the Constitution and the best of our traditions counsel mutual respect and tolerance, not censorship and suppression, for religious and nonreligious views alike.”

I stand in strong support of this ruling because of its significance in upholding our inalienable First Amendment rights. Religious freedom laid the groundwork in the formation of our country and I’m glad the integrity of our government system held true. After the decision was released, Coach Kennedy said, “This is a victory for everybody in America,” and I couldn’t agree more.