Federal judge upholds teacher’s free speech rights

A federal judge on Friday, September 5, ruled that Bradley Johnson, a San Diego high school teacher, has a free speech right to display patriotic banners in his classroom with messages including “God Bless America,” “In God We Trust,” and “One Nation Under God.”

After 25 years on display in Johnson’s classroom, school officials last year ordered the banners removed, claiming they promoted a “Judeo-Christian” viewpoint. The School District allowed classroom displays by other teachers that included posters of Buddhist and Islamic messages and Tibetan prayer flags, among other displays.

In response, Thomas More Law Center filed a federal lawsuit against the school on Johnson’s behalf.

Federal District Judge Robert T. Benitez ruled that the lawsuit may proceed, stating in his decision: “Whether described as speech from a religious perspective or speech about American history and culture, through display of his classroom banners, Johnson was simply exercising his free speech rights on subjects that were otherwise permitted in the limited public forum created by Defendants and in a manner that did not cause substantial disorder in the classroom. Thus, Johnson has made out a clear claim for relief for an ongoing violation of his First Amendment free speech rights.”

Read the Thomas More Law Center press release: http://www.thomasmore.org/qry/page.taf?id=19 Read the judge’s ruling: http://www.thomasmore.org/downloads/sb_thomasmore/PowayRuling.pdf