AU Supporter,

Kennedy v. Bremerton is one of the most important Supreme Court religious freedom cases this term. At stake is whether a public school coach will be allowed to pressure his players to join his public prayers. But no student should have to pray to play school sports.

Church-state separation means that no one should ever have to choose between their religious freedom and being part of the team. That's why our coalition of religious and nonreligious advocates is fighting back to protect students’, and everyone’s, First Amendment rights.

Those are the stakes in AU’s case, Kennedy v. Bremerton School District.

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Today, the former football coach’s attorneys filed their brief, which continues pushing a false narrative about what really happened in Bremerton. Coach Kennedy’s lawyers claim that he just wants to pray quietly by himself, but the lower courts found this to be false—and one judge even called it a “deceitful narrative” spun by the opposition.

The school district repeatedly offered to accommodate the coach’s wish to pray in a way that wouldn’t violate students’ religious freedom, but Coach Kennedy refused, demanding that he be able to pray at the center of the field, out loud, and with students. Having lost multiple times in lower courts, Coach Kennedy’s lawyers think the high court’s 6-3 conservative majority will see things their way.

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The facts in this case are clear: A coach violated the religious freedom of students by pressuring them to join his public prayers at the 50-yard line at public high school football games. But a shadow network of religious extremists and their political allies is distorting those facts and using this case to advance their agenda.

That’s what makes this case so critical—a loss would dangerously erode a core principle of our democracy. We’re on very dangerous ground if the Supreme Court is considering overturning decades of established law that ensures government employees cannot pressure students to pray in public schools. It would be a radical departure from the accepted standard supported by both liberal and conservative Justices for decades.

Those who want to reverse 60 years of precedent protecting students' religious freedom have a lot of money and power behind them. That’s why your gift to support Americans United right now is so important.

This case matters, and the time to lay the groundwork for fighting back is right now. Make a contribution today to help AU defend the religious freedom of everyone.

With hope and determination,

Rachel K. Laser
President and CEO