Ahlquist v. Cranston

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When Cranston High School West was opened in 1959, its student council was charged with selection of a school prayer along with its school creed, colors, and mascot. The prayer, adopted in 1960, replaced the Lord's Prayer in daily recitation until 1962, following the United States Supreme Court ruling in Engel v. Vitale. Banners bearing both the school creed and prayer were gifts from the school's first graduating class (1963), and were affixed in the school auditorium. The text of the prayer reads:

Grant us each day the desire to do our best.

To grow mentally and morally as well as physically.

To be kind and helpful to our classmates and teachers.

To be honest with ourselves as well as with others.

Help us to be good sports and smile when we lose as well as when we win.

Teach us the value of true friendship.

Help us always to conduct ourselves so as to bring credit to Cranston High School West.

Amen.|School Prayer|Cranston High School West}}

Plaintiffs

Main article: Jessica Ahlquist

Jessica Ahlquist was born in 1995, and lives in Cranston, Rhode Island. Her father, Mark Ahlquist, was co-plaintiff as parent, guardian, and next friend.

Lawsuit

In July 2010, the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) sent a letter to Cranston School District superintendent on behalf of an unnamed parent who complained about the banner. Initially, school officials thought the banner could be modified, avoiding the prohibitive expense of a lawsuit.{{Citation |publication-date=July 22, 2010 |access-date=January 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100724142740/http://www2.turnto10.com/news/2010/jul/22/cranston-weighs-changing-words-prayer-banner-ar-160973/ |archive-date=July 24, 2010

The Rhode Island chapter of the ACLU asked Ahlquist if she would serve as a plaintiff in a lawsuit. The Cranston School Committee had made defense arrangements with Joseph V. Cavanagh, Jr. and The Becket Fund for Religious Liberty which represented them without charge.

District Court Judge Ronald R. Lagueux issued a decision in favor of Ahlquist on January 11, 2012. The decision was in part based on the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment, and the United States Supreme Court's earlier rulings in Lemon v. Kurtzman (1971), Lynch v. Donnelly (1984), and Lee v. Weisman (1992), all three of which had a local Rhode Island component: the Lee case was from nearby Providence, the Lynch case was from Pawtucket bordering Providence on the opposite side from Cranston, and the Lemon case was consolidated at the appeals level from both Rhode Island and Pennsylvania.

Aftermath

At the hearing, Lagueux remarked that Ahlquist "is clearly an articulate and courageous young woman, who took a brave stand, particularly in light of the hostile response she has received from her community". Following the ruling on the case, police involvement has increased, both escorting Ahlquist to classes and investigating threats, mostly originating in Cranston. An unnamed student was disciplined by the school because of threats. Local florists also refused a delivery to Ahlquist. Two high school students from other states have described their objections to school prayer as inspired by her activism.

Religious leaders from the Rhode Island State Council of Churches rallied to defend Ahlquist and condemn the language used to describe her.{{Citation |publication-date=January 24, 2012 |access-date=January 29, 2012 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120130062900/http://www.wpri.com/dpp/news/local_news/west_bay/religious-group-defends-ahlquist |archive-date=January 30, 2012 | publication-date = January 19, 2012| title = Council of Churches leader supports removal of prayer banner| journal = Warwick Beacon| publisher = Beacon Communications| url = http://www.warwickonline.com/stories/Rev-from-Council-of-Churches-expresses-support-for-prayer-banner-removal,66926| access-date = January 29, 2012}}

On the day following the ruling, Rhode Island State Representative Peter G. Palumbo spoke on a local radio show and referred to Ahlquist as "an evil little thing". While the supporters of the banner raised funds for the preservation of the banner in the event of its ordered removal by selling T-shirts with the banner's full text, Ahlquist's supporters raised funds with "Evil little thing" T-shirts, the proceeds going to a college education fund established for her.

On February 16, 2012, the Cranston School Committee decided not to appeal by a 5–2 vote. The banner was removed, intact, during the first weekend in March, and the school and city agreed to pay the ACLU $150,000 in legal fees. On the day of the agreement, a group consisting of three students, three alumni, and a North Providence resident filed a motion to stay. The motion was dismissed on the basis of being untimely and that they lacked standing. The group filed a notice of appeal over the ruling barring their intervention. Of the seven appellants, four had not signed the notice of appeal, and mail sent by the First Circuit Court of Appeals to a fifth appellant's address was returned as undeliverable with no forwarding address. While various parties remained interested in acquiring the banner a year after the case had been decided, the banner remained in storage. In September 2013, an alumni group presented a new mural to the school containing the school's creed.

References

References

1. Schieldrop, Mark. (January 13, 2012). "Police, School Officials Investigating Online Prayer Case Reaction for Cyberbullying". Cranston Patch.
2. (January 13, 2012). "Threats against RI atheist teen being investigated". [[Boston Globe]].
3. (19 July 2012). "Rhode Island: A Resident Hears Dissent in Roger Williams' State".
4. Goodnough, Abby. (January 26, 2012). "Student Faces Town's Wrath in Protest Against a Prayer". [[The New York Times]].
5. Brown, Stephen. "Letter to Superintendent". Rhode Island Chapter ACLU.
6. "Facebook page: "Support the Removal of the Cranston High School West Prayer".
7. {{cite court. (01/11/2012). link
8. Crimaldi, Laura. (October 13, 2011). "Jessica Ahlquist, Rhode Island Student, Confident Her Side Is 'Very Strong' In School Prayer Mural Suit". [[The Huffington Post]].
9. Metcalf, Andrew. "School Committee Decides to Defend Banner". Cranston Patch.
10. The suit was filed in April 2011.[[American Civil Liberties Union]], ''[http://www.riaclu.org/201104042.htm ACLU Files Suit Over Cranston School Prayer Banner] {{webarchive. link. (2012-02-18 '' 4th April, 2011)
11. Metcalf, Andrew. "School School Committee Finds Lawyers to Defend Banner". Cranston Patch.
12. Winston, Kimberly. (January 13, 2012). "Judge rules against prayer banner in R.I. school". [[The Washington Post]].
13. Ng, Christina. (January 18, 2012). "Rhode Island Teen's Battle Against Prayer Banner Has Gone 'Too Far,' Mayor Says". ABC News.
14. Davis, Paul. (January 19, 2012). "Florist found in Connecticut to deliver roses to Cranston West prayer banner opponent / Poll". Providence Journal.
15. Metcalf, Andrew. "Ahlquist Inspires Two Others To Contest Prayers At Their Schools". Cranston Patch.
16. DeQuattro, Dee. "Rival shirts go on sale amidst the banner controversy". WPRO 630AM 99.7FM.
17. Schieldrop, Mark. "As Committee Nears Appeal Decision, Banner Saga Reaches New York Times". Cranston Patch.
18. Crimaldi, Laura. "Cranston Votes Not to Appeal Prayer Banner Case". ABC News.
19. (March 6, 2012). "Cranston agrees to pay ACLU $150,000 in legal fees, ending prayer-banner fight". Providence Journal.
20. (March 7, 2012). "7 seek stay of order to remove prayer banner in RI". NY Times.
21. Arditi, Lynn. (April 12, 2012). "Federal judge: Cranston prayer banner case is over". Providence Journal.
22. "Group wants prayer banner case reopened". WPRI.com.
23. ''Ahlquist v. Mesagno, et al,'' no. 12-1614 (1st Cir. filed May 21, 2012), order, Sep. 20 2012; retrieved from [https://ecf.ca1.uscourts.gov/cmecf/servlet/TransportRoom?servlet=CaseSearch.jsp PACER], October 22, 2012
24. Jonic, Flo. (February 18, 2013). "Prayer banner still in storage". Rhode Island Public Radio.
25. Kuffner, Alex. (21 September 2013). "Cranston West Class of '63 presents school with new banners". Providence Journal.