Fans rally behind LFO cheerleaders
Oct 03, 2009 | 1866 views | 2 
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Friday night’s game between Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe and Ridgeland high schools brought more than the traditional rivalry. Fans brought lots of signs bearing Bible verses and Christian sayings.
The crowd packed the stands, with many fans wearing “Warriors for Christ” T-shirts.
There’s been no shortage of reaction to the recent ban on the religious signs held by cheerleaders during football games at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School.
Initially, news reports stated that a verbal complaint over the signs had been made to su-perintendent of schools Denia Reese.
Donna Jackson, a parent of a Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High student and a Ringgold resident, said Thursday night on a Ringgold radio program that she did make a phone call to Reese concerning the signs, but it wasn’t to complain.
“I did not call the superintendent and complain that the LFO cheerleaders’ signs vio-lated federal law by promoting religion at a school function,” Jackson said in a statement.
“I did call the superintendent to express concern that the cheerleaders’ signs be done in such a way that all involved were within the ever changing and very confusing lines drawn by the federal courts about such things.”
Reese issued a statement on Thursday, Oct. 1 that Jackson “made the accusation that the school system was breaking the law and that it needed to be stopped.”
On Monday, Sept. 28, the Catoosa County Board of Education determined it is a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution for signs with Bible verses to be displayed on the football field.
The board said “the U.S. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have ruled that religious activities at high school football games create the ‘inescapable conclusion’ that the school endorses the religious activity.”
“Violations of these rulings can lead to lawsuits resulting in injunctions, unnecessary le-gal costs and damages that have to be paid by the local taxpayers, and possibly the loss of federal funding.”
Reaction
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, more 500 people came to the polo grounds at Barnhardt Circle in Fort Oglethorpe in support of the cheerleaders.
“It’s freedom of religion, not freedom from religion,” one speaker said.
At this week’s homecoming game against Ridgeland, this should be evident.
Although the display of religious messages on the field has been banned, Lakeview Fort-Oglethorpe High has designated an area for religious signs located roughly 50 yards from the field on the school’s front lawn.
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High principal Jerry Ransom told foxnews.com on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that he expects a large turnout at the designated area.
Rep. Jay Neal said during the rally that he wanted to see the section “filled” with signs.
Tim Wildmon, the president of the American Family Association (AFA), said in a release, “It’s just bizarre that we live at a time where a single complaint from one hypersensitive person can trample the right to free speech for an entire community. We urge Ms. Reese and the Catoosa County school board not to give up the fight but to work with First Amendment law firms to craft a policy that will protect maximum student expression.”
The crowd packed the stands, with many fans wearing “Warriors for Christ” T-shirts.
There’s been no shortage of reaction to the recent ban on the religious signs held by cheerleaders during football games at Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High School.
Initially, news reports stated that a verbal complaint over the signs had been made to su-perintendent of schools Denia Reese.
Donna Jackson, a parent of a Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High student and a Ringgold resident, said Thursday night on a Ringgold radio program that she did make a phone call to Reese concerning the signs, but it wasn’t to complain.
“I did not call the superintendent and complain that the LFO cheerleaders’ signs vio-lated federal law by promoting religion at a school function,” Jackson said in a statement.
“I did call the superintendent to express concern that the cheerleaders’ signs be done in such a way that all involved were within the ever changing and very confusing lines drawn by the federal courts about such things.”
Reese issued a statement on Thursday, Oct. 1 that Jackson “made the accusation that the school system was breaking the law and that it needed to be stopped.”
On Monday, Sept. 28, the Catoosa County Board of Education determined it is a violation of the First Amendment of the Constitution for signs with Bible verses to be displayed on the football field.
The board said “the U.S. Supreme Court and Court of Appeals have ruled that religious activities at high school football games create the ‘inescapable conclusion’ that the school endorses the religious activity.”
“Violations of these rulings can lead to lawsuits resulting in injunctions, unnecessary le-gal costs and damages that have to be paid by the local taxpayers, and possibly the loss of federal funding.”
Reaction
On Tuesday, Sept. 29, more 500 people came to the polo grounds at Barnhardt Circle in Fort Oglethorpe in support of the cheerleaders.
“It’s freedom of religion, not freedom from religion,” one speaker said.
At this week’s homecoming game against Ridgeland, this should be evident.
Although the display of religious messages on the field has been banned, Lakeview Fort-Oglethorpe High has designated an area for religious signs located roughly 50 yards from the field on the school’s front lawn.
Lakeview-Fort Oglethorpe High principal Jerry Ransom told foxnews.com on Wednesday, Sept. 30, that he expects a large turnout at the designated area.
Rep. Jay Neal said during the rally that he wanted to see the section “filled” with signs.
Tim Wildmon, the president of the American Family Association (AFA), said in a release, “It’s just bizarre that we live at a time where a single complaint from one hypersensitive person can trample the right to free speech for an entire community. We urge Ms. Reese and the Catoosa County school board not to give up the fight but to work with First Amendment law firms to craft a policy that will protect maximum student expression.”
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I do not see how positive statments of character and positive statments about God could be construed to be establishing a religion unless we want to define Athesist, Hunanist, and Agnostic groups that deny God's existence as a religion.
I do not believe the government should establish its own religion. But we all should support and uphold the foundation of our government which is the philosophy of one nation under God.
Watching that video made me happy to see the youth in the area come out and stand up for what they believe in and not letting the politically correct world of the new world order hold them down.
Being that really, the government (in all its ummm glory) does not have constitutional authority to even be involved in the educational system (let alone health care) and this is a nice way to see people with strong beliefs stand up for their rights.
If one person can get what they want and force everyone else out of what they see as a right, considering it was just a sign and not a forced gospel meeting of some sorts, then I really do think that these are the signs of the times we live in.
Great video and story!
It is nice to see a story that has both sides and doesn't just pick one.