{"id":2019740,"date":"2023-09-01T18:23:01","date_gmt":"2023-09-01T22:23:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-i-fought-the-good-fight-high-school-football-coach-returns-to-the-field-after-supreme-court-ruling\/"},"modified":"2023-09-01T18:27:59","modified_gmt":"2023-09-01T22:27:59","slug":"in-depth-i-fought-the-good-fight-high-school-football-coach-returns-to-the-field-after-supreme-court-ruling","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-i-fought-the-good-fight-high-school-football-coach-returns-to-the-field-after-supreme-court-ruling\/","title":{"rendered":"High school football coach back on field after Supreme Court ruling."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">22<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fin-depth-i-fought-the-good-fight-high-school-football-coach-returns-to-the-field-after-supreme-court-ruling%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2019740&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div data-post-content=\"true\" class=\"post_content\" id=\"post_content\">\n<p>A high school coach returns \u2064to the game on the first of September after the Supreme Court ruled \u2064in favor of his\u2062 First Amendment right to pray on the football\u200c field.<\/p>\n<p>Joe Kennedy, a\u200d twenty-year Marine veteran and assistant coach for the Bremerton High School (BHS) football team in Bremerton, Washington, was suspended\u200d in 2015 for his \u200dcustom of\u2062 taking a knee and praying midfield after games to offer thanks, whether his team won or lost.<\/p>\n<p>The school district\u2019s lawyers took issue with his ceremony of seven years \u2064and \u200bwarned that if \u200dhe didn\u2019t stop, he\u2019d be \u2062suspended, but Mr. Kennedy wouldn\u2019t be deterred.<\/p>\n<div class=\"shortcode\">\n<div class=\"border-comp-divider mb-4 mr-4 w-full max-w-[500px] border px-5 py-4 text-[16px] leading-[20px] text-[#262626] md:float-left\">\n<div class=\"mb-3 font-sans text-[16px] font-semibold uppercase leading-[19px] text-[#2F2F2F]\">Related Stories<\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/southwest-ordered-to-attend-religious-freedom-training-5459013\">Southwest Ordered to Attend Religious Freedom Training<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">8\/12\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/southwest-ordered-to-attend-religious-freedom-training-5459013\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"mb-4 flex gap-2\">\n<div class=\"grow\">\n<div class=\"mb-1 line-clamp-2\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/in-depth-long-overdue-medical-freedom-advocates-celebrate-historic-federal-ruling-returning-religious-vaccine-exemption-to-mississippi-5430449\">IN-DEPTH: &#8216;Long Overdue&#8217;:\u200b Medical Freedom Advocates \u200dCelebrate &#8216;Historic&#8217; Federal Ruling Returning Religious Vaccine \u200dExemption to Mississippi<\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"text-comp-caption text-[14px] leading-[18px]\">7\/28\/2023<\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<div class=\"shrink-0 basis-[120px]\"><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theepochtimes.com\/us\/in-depth-long-overdue-medical-freedom-advocates-celebrate-historic-federal-ruling-returning-religious-vaccine-exemption-to-mississippi-5430449\"><\/a><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<p>\u201cAs a Marine veteran who fought in the first Gulf War, it really rubbed \u2062me the wrong way because I served 20 years to support and defend the Constitution,\u201d Mr. Kennedy told The Epoch Times. \u201cNow, I\u2019m\u2063 being told it doesn\u2019t apply to me. There\u2019s something \u200bfundamentally wrong with that. If I\u200b can\u2019t express my First Amendment rights as an American, imagine what they \u200care doing to everybody else.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Though it would have been easier to comply, Mr. Kennedy said that\u2019s essentially what\u2019s \u2062wrong with society\u200b today.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNobody wants to take a stand,\u201d he\u2062 said. \u201cWell, I \u2063wasn\u2019t going to just sit \u2063back \u200cand let them demolish my rights.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Inspired by the Christian film \u201cFacing the Giants,\u201d \u200cMr. Kennedy started coaching in 2008.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cJust like in the movie, I gave the glory to God after every game, and that\u2019s what I did,\u201d he said. \u201cI would be at the 50-yard line and \u2062take a knee to thank God.\u201d<\/p>\n<h2>Separation of Church and State \u2064Questioned<\/h2>\n<p>According to First Liberty Institute (FLI), \u200bthe religious freedom\u2063 legal organization that represented\u2064 Mr. \u200dKennedy, the school district lawyers had concluded that \u200cMr.\u200c Kennedy\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/in-depth-i-fought-the-good-fight-high-school-football-coach-returns-to-the-field-after-supreme-court-ruling\/\" title=\"High school football coach back on field after Supreme Court ruling.\">prayer violated school \u2063policy prohibiting <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-cabinet-pick-defended-unconstitutional-religious-restrictions\/\" title=\"Biden Cabinet Pick Defended Unconstitutional Religious Restrictions\">religious activity<\/a> intermingled<\/a> with student activities and decided further \u200cthat such activity \u201cshould be non-demonstrative.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Kennedy had been offering motivational speeches to the students who gathered for prayer after the game.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThose speeches sometimes included religious content and a short prayer,\u2063 but\u200d he never coerced, required, or asked any student to pray or told any student\u2062 that it was important that they participate in any religious activity,\u201d <a href=\"https:\/\/firstliberty.org\/cases\/coachkennedy\/#simple1\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">FLI said<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>After a complaint from the\u200d coach of an opposing team, the school district lawyers\u2064 were made aware of the post-game gatherings, which led to their request that he discontinue praying with students.<\/p>\n<p>Mr. Kennedy stopped, and at the next game, he ceased public praying altogether.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cOn the way home from the game, he felt upset that he had broken the commitment he had made to God at \u2064the outset of his coaching career,\u201d FLI said. \u2062\u201cSo, he\u200b turned the car around and returned to the field. Coach Kennedy waited until everyone left both the field and stadium, then walked to the 50-yard line\u2063 alone and\u200c knelt in silent prayer.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The district lawyers became concerned that the midfield prayer, even without the participation of the students, was risking being perceived as a government \u200dendorsement of religion, thus violating the separation of church and state, so they drew a line in the sand.<\/p>\n<p>The LBI requested that the district\u2064 grant Mr. Kennedy a religious accommodation under \u200cTitle VII of the Civil\u200c Rights Act that prohibits employment\u2063 discrimination\u200c based on, among \u2064others, religious beliefs, which was later denied.<\/p>\n<p>At\u200d another game, Mr. Kennedy continued his tradition of praying after the game.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhile he was kneeling with his\u2063 eyes closed, coaches and players from the opposing team, along with \u2064members of the public, decided to join him on the field \u2062and to kneel beside him,\u201d FLI said. \u201cCoach \u200dKennedy did not\u200b ask anyone to join him and did not know that anyone would join him.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Despite his \u2064compliance with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/ohio-professor-who-refused-to-use-students-preferred-pronouns-can-sue-university-after-being-disciplined-federal-appeals-court-rules\/\" title=\"Ohio Professor Who Refused To Use Student\u2019s Preferred Pronouns Can Sue University After Being Disciplined, Federal Appeals Court Rules\">school policy<\/a> regarding public prayer, the district enacted more\u2062 strict rules prohibiting\u200c him from engaging in religious activity within \u200dthe view of the public,\u2062 FLI said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe only \u2018accommodation\u2019 the district offered to Coach Kennedy was to permit him to pray in secret in a \u2018private location within \u2064the school building, athletic facility[,] or press box,\u2019 FLI said.<\/p>\n<h2>&#8216;Unwilling to Break His \u2063Commitment&#8217;<\/h2>\n<p>But Mr. Kennedy persisted, FLI said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cUnwilling to\u2062 break his commitment to God yet again, \u200cwhen the next game ended and the players began engaging in other post-game traditions, Coach Kennedy knelt alone to offer a brief, silent prayer \u2064of thanks at the 50-yard line,\u201d FLI said.<\/p>\n<p>Two days later. Mr. Kennedy was put on <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/blm-activist-working-at-library-fired-after-allegedly-burning-library-books-by-trump-coulter-now-hes-claiming-racial-discrimination\/\" title=\"BLM Activist Working At Library Fired After Allegedly Burning Library Books By Trump, Coulter. Now He\u2019s Claiming Racial Discrimination.\">paid administrative leave<\/a> and barred from participating in the football games until he \u201caffirms his intention to comply with the District\u2019s directives.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cBut those directives went against my\u200d faith and my constitutional\u200b right as an American, and I wasn\u2019t about to give that up,\u201d Mr. Kennedy\u200c said.<\/p>\n<div>\n<figure style=\"width:600px\" class=\"alignnone\"><figcaption>Mr. Joe\u200c Kennedy\u2063 coaching at \u200ca Bremerton High School game. \u2062(Courtesy of First Liberty Institute)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<h2>The Legal Battle<\/h2>\n<p>FLI filed the lawsuit (<a href=\"https:\/\/acrobat.adobe.com\/id\/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:c8ec1292-d37c-4856-b1b2-69b6ca897caa\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pdf<\/a>) against\u2063 the\u2063 school district in <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/federal-court-is-fast-tracking-sidney-powells-request-for-a-forensic-exam-of-dominion-voting-machines\/\" title=\"Federal Court Is Fast-Tracking Sidney Powell\u2019s Request For A Forensic Exam Of Dominion Voting Machines\">federal court<\/a> in 2016, declaring that the school \u2062district\u2019s actions \u2064violated his First Amendment rights.<\/p>\n<p>In addition,\u2064 FLI asked for a preliminary injunction for the district to reinstate him.<\/p>\n<p>District Judge Ronald\u200b Leighton denied the motion, a ruling which was backed by the Ninth Circuit Court\u2063 of Appeals Judge\u200c Milan\u2064 Smith.<\/p>\n<p>According to the<a href=\"https:\/\/apnews.com\/article\/us-supreme-court-sports-business-religion-donald-trump-d5817d75d8b3ae436ee2b66eed5ca7dc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\"> Associated Press<\/a>, Judge Leighton compared Mr. Kennedy\u2019s \u2064custom to a director who prays centerstage after a play.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cA reasonable onlooker \u200dwould interpret their speech from that location as an\u200d extension of the school-sanctioned speech just before it,\u201d Judge Leighton\u2064 said.<\/p>\n<p>In 2018, the Supreme Court denied the initial request to hear the case, but Justices Samuel Alito, Clarence Thomas, Neil Gorsuch, and Brett Kavanaugh questioned the lower court&#8217;s interpretation of the \u200dFirst Amendment rights within the school system, calling the Ninth Circuit\u2019s ruling \u201ctroubling.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The\u2063 Supreme Court returned the \u200dcase to the district \u2063court,\u2064 where \u2062it, and later the Ninth Circuit, again sided with the school district, prompting FLI to refile the case with the Supreme Court.<\/p>\n<h2>Lemon v. Kurtzman<\/h2>\n<p>The Supreme Court overturned \u200bLemon \u2063v. Kurtzman (<a href=\"https:\/\/acrobat.adobe.com\/id\/urn:aaid:sc:VA6C2:bf2400c6-63b1-48e8-9d30-1c43912ab6af\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">pdf)<\/a>, which had been used as a precedent when arguing in opposition to\u200d the freedom of\u2062 religious \u200bexpression in\u2062 government settings.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat most people don\u2019t know is that the Court\u2019s final decision has much greater ramifications nationwide,\u201d said Mr. Kennedy\u2019s attorney, Kelly Shackelford.<\/p>\n<p>Ms. Shackelford said Lemon v. Kurtzman had been cited \u201cmore than seven thousand times\u201d over the last 50 years, which had promoted hostility toward religious expression.<\/p>\n<p>The\u2063 1971 case revolved around state statutes in Pennsylvania and Rhode Island that permitted funding to religious schools that would pay for teachers\u2019 salaries, textbooks, and instructional material.<\/p>\n<p>Alton Lemon and other appellants \u2063sued Pennsylvania\u200c Superintendent of Public Instruction David Kurtzman, challenging the\u2063 constitutionality of aid to nonpublic, religious schools.<\/p>\n<p>The Supreme Court sided with Lemon and the other appellants.<\/p>\n<p>According to Ms. Shackelford, the case has since been lorded over those who have argued for their right to freely express their religious beliefs.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThanks\u2063 to Coach Kenney, Lemon is now dead,\u201d Ms. Shackelford concluded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A high school coach, Joe Kennedy, returns to the game on September 1st after the Supreme Court upheld his First Amendment right to pray on the football field. Kennedy, a twenty-year Marine veteran and assistant coach for Bremerton High School in Washington, was suspended in 2015.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":230,"featured_media":2019741,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[543],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2019740","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-epoch-times"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2019740","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/230"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2019740"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2019740\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2019741"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2019740"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2019740"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2019740"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}