Jesus Prevails
Kountze High School cheerleaders win right to display Bible verses
The cheerleaders at Kountze High School have a new reason to jump and shout. State District Judge Steve Thomas ruled that the girls' hand-painted signs displaying Bible verses before football games are constitutionally permissible.
Thomas' ruling out of Houston ended a legal battle dating back to September 2012, when the Freedom From Religion Foundation in Wisconsin set off a chain of events that led to the issue making its way to through the Hardin County court system.
When Kountze ISD superintendent Kevin Weldon ordered the cheerleaders to stop making the signs, parents brought a suit against the school district.
The Liberty Institute in Plano has defended the cheerleaders' choice as a matter of religious freedom. The signs were allowed to continue up until this point through a temporary court order.
Upon hearing the news, Texas Gov. Rick Perry congratulated the girls on their victory.
Today's ruling is a win for free speech and religious freedom. The Kountze High School cheerleaders showed great resolve and maturity beyond their years in standing up for their beliefs and constitutional rights. I'm proud of them and I celebrate this victory alongside them.