NFL players are using the playing of the national anthem to promote a social agenda, and it’s already spread to college and high school athletes.
There have been no serious repercussions.
But let a high school coach, on his own initiative, kneel in prayer at midfield after a game and watch out.
That’s the substance of the legal argument developing for Joe Kennedy, an assistant football coach for Bremerton High School in Washington state until he was fired for taking a knee on the field before and after games and praying.
A district court denied his request to halt the school district’s discrimination against him, and now he has notified the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals of his plan to appeal
“I’ve attended the games this season as a spectator, but it’s been a punch in the gut to be in the stands,” Kennedy said in a statement released by First Liberty Institute, which is working on his case.
“I hope the court will rule that I can get back on the sidelines and keep coaching these amazing guys.”
Kennedy sued after Bremerton High School terminated him for offering a brief, quiet prayer at the 50-yard line after football games. In the lawsuit, Kennedy’s attorneys claimed the Bremerton School District violated Kennedy’s First Amendment rights.
See their description of the case:
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“If the Constitution protects the right of a football coach to kneel in protest, it should certainly protect the right of a football coach to kneel in prayer,” said Mike Berry, the institute’s senior counsel.
Kennedy wants only to get his job back; he is seeking no monetary damages.
His original lawsuit was filed Aug. 9 in the Western District of Washington. The next month he asked for a preliminary injunction. His notice of appeal to the 9th Circuit came this week after his request was rejected.
WND reported when Kennedy was suspended by school officials.
“Effective immediately,” Superintendent Aaron Leavell wrote in a letter to the coach, “pending further district review of your conduct, you are placed on paid administrative leave from your position as an assistant coach with the Bremerton High School football program. You may not participate, in any capacity, in BHS football program activities.”
Shortly later, during the 2015 football season, the school dismissed him.
In an an appearance on Fox News, Kennedy described his reasons for praying: “It’s something that I kind of made an agreement with, my personal faith in God, that this is something I was going to do – give Him the glory after every single game and do it on the 50 and I’m kind of a guy of my word.”
As WND reported, he said he prayed both before and after games for years for the safety of all the players. Often, players on both teams would join him on the field to bow their heads.
Hiram Sasser, Kennedy’s attorney, said the school is acting in a hostile manner toward Christianity and “sending the message to all people of faith that they are not welcome.”
Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump mentioned Kennedy’s “outrageous” plight while speaking about religious liberty during the Retired American Warriors PAC gathering on Monday in Herndon, Virginia.
“The other day, just to add to your list, I was watching one of the news programs and they had a, I think high school football coach, you know, they’re going into battle,” said Trump.
Audience members then interrupted Trump, saying “he’s here,” referring to the coach.
Trump, who said he had no idea Kennedy was in attendance, then asked the former Marine Corps gunnery sergeant to stand.
“So you’re not allowed to pray before a football game?” Trump asked.
“They put me on suspension and then at the end of the year they gave me an adverse write-up of how well I did my job. I didn’t change anything for eight years,” Kennedy told Trump in front of the other retired service members. “Always prayed after every game. And they just really slapped me on it. Said what a horrible person I was. Ended up just not renewing my contract, so ultimately firing me.”
Trump responded that Kennedy’s termination was “absolutely outrageous. I think it’s outrageous. I think it’s very, very sad and outrageous. Hey, it’s about religious liberty.”