Freedom of speech is under attack by the left across the country. It seems no matter where you turn, there is someone trying to suppress the 1st Amendment rights of others, including in graduation speeches.
It seems Christianity is especially under attack, despite the left’s false claims that it isn’t. God forbid someone mentions the word “Jesus” in a public place, they may well be crucified for it. One young girl is finding out just how badly free speech is oppressed in Beaver, Pennsylvania:
Moriah Bridges wanted to thank God for His immeasurable blessings on Beaver High School’s graduating class. But she could not, because it was against the law.
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The Pennsylvania teenager wanted to offer thanksgiving to the Almighty for parents and coaches and teachers. But again, she could not, because it was against the law.
She crafted a lovely prayer that mentioned her “Heavenly Father” and her “Lord.”
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“Lord, surround us with grace and favor everywhere we go,” she prayed. “Soften our hearts to teach us love and compassion, to show mercy and grace to others the way that you showed mercy and grace to us, even to the ultimate sacrifice. Help us love our brothers and our sisters deeply. Lead us to bless them.”
The school district actually told her she could not mention God or a prayer. Their reasoning? It was supposedly against the law. They literally lied to a young teen girl and suppressed her 1st Amendment rights. The young girl didn’t think that was right and contacted a lawyer:
“I was shocked that the school said my personal remarks broke the law and I was saddened that I could not draw upon my Christian identity to express my best wishes for my classmates on what should’ve been the happiest day of high school,” Moriah said.
Moriah abided by the school district’s edict – and then she contacted First Liberty Institute, one of the nation’s top religious liberty law firms.
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“The last lesson this school district taught its students is that they should hide their religious beliefs from public view,” First Liberty Institute attorney Jeremy Dys told me. “That fails the test of the First Amendment.”
It wasn’t the student who broke the law, it was her high school officials. Her speech doesn’t represent the school, it represents her personal beliefs. Her attorney has requested a meeting with the school, but so far they have declined.
I hope Moriah reads this – SAY WHAT YOU WANT ANYWAY, YOUNG LADY! Do not let them shut you up. It is your speech. Your graduation day. Your 1st Amendment right. There is absolutely nothing they can do to you to stop you or to harm you afterwards.
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If they do, there will be legal consequences they will have to face, because it is they who broke the law, not you.
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