An Indiana high school track coach prohibited members of his team from gathering for student-led prayer before games, a new federal lawsuit alleges.
The case involves the girls’ varsity track and field team at Lake Central High School in St. John, Indiana, about 20 miles southwest of Gary and near the Illinois state line.by lawsuit The lawsuit was filed in U.S. District Court earlier this month, but before a game in late February, coach Ron Fredrick became upset when he saw several members of his team gather for prayer during warmups. did.
“Don’t let me see you do something like that again,” he allegedly warned her.
The coach’s alleged comments were immediately reported to Lake Central School Corporation administrators and LCHS Athletic Director Chris Enyeart, who emailed concerned parents saying he would “look into the situation.” reportedly promised.
It is unclear whether Enyeart followed through on that promise, but at a practice a week and a half after the initial incident, Fredrick reportedly mentioned the issue and again warned players not to gather for prayer. Ru. He explained that groups of three or fewer people can have a quiet “moment of reflection” that lasts no more than “half a second, similar to the moment of silence during the national anthem,” the complaint says.
Because of their coach’s repeated instructions, the athletes now “fear” that praying together could lead to “punishment or retaliation,” the lawsuit added.
The American Center for Law and Justice, a legal organization dedicated to protecting religious freedom, has issued a statement on behalf of the parents of the two sisters on the track and field team to the Lake Central School Corporation, Superintendent Larry Beracco, and coach Filed a lawsuit against Fredrick: KD, 17, ND, 14.
“Blatant violations of students’ First Amendment rights like what happened here are rare,” one official said. statement From ACLJ.
The statement added: “Students will not ‘abandon their constitutional rights to freedom of speech and expression at the schoolhouse gates.’ tinker A 1969 decision reaffirmed the First Amendment rights of public school students.
The lawsuit seeks a judgment confirming that the students’ rights to religious expression and assembly were violated in this case, and also that the defendants and their “officers, agents, employees, coaches, and staff” must participate in voluntary activities. It is seeking an injunction barring it from making similar interventions. student prayer.
LCHS Principal Erin Novak did not respond to Blaze News’ request for comment.
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