ADF attorney available to media after hearing in Wis. religious drawing lawsuit
http://www.alliancedefensefund.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4490
ALLIANCE DEFENSE FUND MEDIA ADVISORY
April 30, 2008 – FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
CONTACT ADF MEDIA RELATIONS: (480) 444-0020 or www.telladf.org/pressroom
ADF attorney available to media after hearing
in Wis. religious drawing lawsuit
Hearing concerns ADF motion for preliminary injunction against school district
WHO: ADF Senior Legal Counsel David Cortman
WHAT: Available for media interviews following A.P. v. Tomah Area School District hearing
WHEN: Thursday, May 1, immediately following hearing, which begins at 2 p.m. CDT
WHERE: Western District of Wisconsin Federal District Court, Robert W. Kastenmeier Courthouse, 120 N. Henry Street, Madison
MADISON, Wis. — Alliance Defense Fund attorneys will be available for media interviews following a hearing Thursday in A.P. v. Tomah Area School District. ADF attorneys are asking the court to suspend an unconstitutional policy prohibiting religious art while a federal lawsuit moves forward.
“Christian students shouldn’t be penalized for expressing their beliefs,” said Cortman. “In this case, school officials engaged in an unconstitutional double standard by permitting certain students to submit drawings depicting demon-like creatures while simultaneously prohibiting a drawing that included a cross and Scripture verse.”
On March 28, ADF attorneys filed a federal lawsuit after a teacher told a student at Tomah High School to either remove or cover up a Scripture reference depicted in a piece of artwork. Students who portrayed demon-like creatures in their art, however, were not challenged. On April 15, ADF attorneys filed a motion for preliminary injunction, along with a temporary restraining order, against the district (www.telladf.org/news/story.aspx?cid=4475).
A copy of the student’s rejected artwork is available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/APdrawing.pdf. Copies of artwork depicting demonic images created by other students in the class are available at www.telladf.org/UserDocs/DemonDrawing1.jpg and www.telladf.org/UserDocs/DemonDrawing2.jpg. Photos of other displays at the school containing religious content are available at the following links:
· Buddha fountain: www.telladf.org/UserDocs/BuddhaFtn.jpg
· Student-created demonic mask: www.telladf.org/UserDocs/DemonMask1.jpg
· Additional student-created demonic mask: www.telladf.org/UserDocs/DemonMask2.jpg
ADF is a legal alliance defending the right to hear and speak the Truth through strategy, training, funding, and litigation.