It’s remarkable that Americans in 2016 are still wrestling with the text of the First Amendment, in particular the bit about the establishment of religion. Call it the war on Christmas if you like, but this seems like a losing battlefield on which the Killeen Independent School District has chosen to take a stand.
Killeen ISD to debate ban of 'A Charlie Brown Christmas' poster as @KenPaxtonTX demands apologyhttps://t.co/0xmt0ulsaG pic.twitter.com/NNMMWPBXJl
— Dallas Morning News (@dallasnews) December 13, 2016
The Dallas Morning News reports that district officials banned an employee’s Christmas display, insisting that employees “can’t impose their personal beliefs on students.” The item that was somehow imposing Christianity on students? A home-made poster of Linus van Pelt from “A Charlie Brown Christmas” that was hung on clinic aide Dedra Shannon’s door.
When the matter was brought to his attention, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, in the words of Todd Starnes, “dropped a great big Yuletide truth bomb” on the district, citing both the First Amendment and the state’s 2013 “Merry Christmas Law.”
The next generation needs us fighting back now to protect liberty. https://t.co/WYed8WMV3m
— Ken Paxton (@KenPaxtonTX) December 10, 2016
#BREAKING: @TXAG @KenPaxtonTX formally asks Killeen ISD to rescind policy to make educator take down XMas sign. Details coming @fox7austin. pic.twitter.com/c0ByCMONV4
— Elizabeth Saab (@ElizabethSaab) December 13, 2016
Recommended
The school board met Tuesday night, and the religious nonprofit group Texas Values and attorney Jonathan M. Saenz documented some of the proceedings.
Trigger warning: here’s a photo of that poster that had to be taken down:
A staff member was forced to take her Charlie Brown Christmas poster down in @KilleenISD_. Tell @KilleenISD_ to #ProtectChristmas! #txlege pic.twitter.com/DPzND0k1dy
— Texas Values (@txvalues) December 13, 2016
We are honored and blessed to represent this brave and faithful Texan at @KilleenISD_ board meeting tonight #txlege #ChristmasPoster pic.twitter.com/xGUovs10m1
— Texas Values (@txvalues) December 14, 2016
Packed house @KilleenISD_ hearing on #ChristmasPoster issue. #txlege TY @KenPaxtonTX pic.twitter.com/B3nLjXgi9L
— Jonathan Saenz (@jonathansaenzTX) December 14, 2016
Military veteran: "I fought in military so this woman could hang her sign on her door. #ChristmasPoster #txlege pic.twitter.com/4XSX3hOayw
— Jonathan Saenz (@jonathansaenzTX) December 14, 2016
"I will not be silenced because someone is offended" says @KilleenISD_ resident supporting #ChristmasPoster #txlege pic.twitter.com/xj1GXKBgM2
— Jonathan Saenz (@jonathansaenzTX) December 14, 2016
Unanimous support of our client’s Charlie Brown #Christmasposter from public testimony at Killeen ISD meeting tonight #txlege
— Texas Values (@txvalues) December 14, 2016
Veterans of school board meetings know that large turnouts and unanimous public support are no guarantee the district will change its position, so stay tuned.
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