TAMPA, Fla. – A Tampa Christian school, Cambridge Christian School, is continuing its legal fight against the Florida High School Athletic Association (FHSAA). The dispute centers on a 2015 decision by the FHSAA to prohibit the school from offering a prayer over the stadium loudspeaker before a high-school football championship game.
The school’s lawyers have requested the full 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to review the case, arguing that the FHSAA’s decision infringed on their First Amendment rights. This move comes after a three-judge panel of the appeals court upheld a district judge’s ruling in favor of the FHSAA.
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The panel’s decision was based on the premise that announcements made over the loudspeaker at the game were “government speech,” as they were scripted and controlled by the FHSAA. Therefore, they concluded that blocking a prayer did not violate free-speech rights.
However, the school disputes this “government-speech” argument, emphasizing the importance of defending their right to express their faith. They point to other content, such as advertising and remarks from schools, that have been allowed over the public address system at other championship events.
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The case originated from the 2015 championship game where, despite the FHSAA’s prohibition, the teams prayed on the field before and after the game. These prayers were not audible to the spectators in the stands.
While a new law now allows brief opening remarks, including prayers, before championship events, the school is pursuing the case further, seeking nominal damages and a definitive ruling on the First Amendment issues.
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