Fewer than three years ago, we won an important victory for teachers when the Supreme Court issued their decision in the Coach Kennedy case.

The justices ruled that teachers have the right to engage in personal religious expression under the Free Exercise Clause, even when students are present.

Yet, that’s not stopping New Britain School District in Connecticut from threatening a veteran teacher with dismissal for displaying a crucifix in next to her desk.

For the past 10 years, Marisol Arroyo-Castro has kept a small crucifix hanging on the wall next to her workspace. As a devout Catholic, the crucifix reminds her to pray and helps her remain calm throughout the day as she faithfully teaches her students.

On Friday, December 6, 2024, the vice principal abruptly told Marisol that unless she removed the crucifix by her desk by Monday morning, she would be disciplined for insubordination. She was then told that she could move the crucifix to a drawer or hang it under her desk.

Marisol attempted to comply by hanging the crucifix under her desk, but she soon realized that she couldn’t hide her faith under bushel. She prayed and decided to place the crucifix back where it had been for the past 10 years.

And on following Monday, she was suspended for insubordination.

That’s both wrong and unconstitutional.

Under the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, and under the Connecticut Constitution, the District may not limit its employees’ free speech rights, nor their rights to freely exercise their religion.

We won’t sit back while Marisol’s right to express her faith gets trampled. That’s why First Liberty has joined this fight.

In response to the District’s disciplinary action, First Liberty along with volunteer attorneys from the law firm WilmerHale sent a letter to district officials demanding that the school reinstate Marisol for refusing to remove a small crucifix from her workspace.

Rest assured, we won’t stop fighting for Marisol and her right to express her faith in her classroom.

But to win this fight, we need your prayers and your support as this case could escalate very quickly just like things did for Coach Joe Kennedy.

Will you stand with Marisol as she fights to defend expressions of faith in the classroom?

Yes, I will make a gift today!