Ward Melville High School in New York has reversed its decision to ban students from forming a Christian community service club, it was reported on 14 October.
The Long Island school had previously banned Students United in Faith from gathering but, after a public outcry, the club will meet like other school clubs do.
Benefitting the local community
Ward Melville students John Raney and Jeremy Johnson formed Students United in Faith with the intention of creating a space where students with similar beliefs could gather and plan service projects to benefit the local community. Club members joined with the Liberty Institute to fight the school’s ban. A lawsuit was avoided, but attorneys did persuade the school administration to allow Students United in Faith to meet.
Hiram Sasser, Liberty Institute’s Director of Strategic Litigation, said: ‘Congress can pass laws and the courts can issue opinions, but if great Americans like John Raney and Jeremy Johnson don’t take a bold stand for freedom, we will all lose our liberty.’
Raney was pleased that the school’s resistance to Students United in Faith had had the side effect of publicising the group.
‘The publicity surrounding my school’s decision to deny our club access to campus has had the happy consequence of helping students hear about our club who otherwise would not have heard and they have begun to support the club in even greater numbers’, he said. ‘I am thrilled that my fellow club members and I can resume doing good for our community.’
