Illinois: Atheist Challenges Pledge of Allegiance

Michael Newdow's legal saga against the Pledge of Allegiance ended without success, but it is only a matter of time before a new case is launched. The best candidate right now seems to be Rob Sherman in Illinois: his request that the local school stop the daily Pledge of Allegiance has been refused and he may take the matter to court.

The Pioneer Press reports:

The U.S. Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals made that ruling in the 1992 case of Rob Sherman v. Community Consolidated School District 21, when Sherman, an atheist, requested the phrase "under God" be removed from the pledge. However, Sherman said his request this time is different than the 1992 case. He now claims the pledge creates a hostile environment for his atheist daughter, who will be attending London Middle School in the fall. Sherman didn't say that other students are harassing or intimidating his daughter. He claims the recitation of the pledge is harassment enough.

"The assertion is that the state is leading other students to harass and intimidate atheist students by telling them there is a god at the beginning of each day," Sherman said. "The statute is clear -- students are entitled to an educational environment free of harassment and intimidation."

The school doesn’t seem to have much choice here — apparently, leading students in a recitation of the Pledge is required by state law. At the same time, the school administrators also think that the Pledge is a good way to start the day, so even if it weren’t the law they would probably refuse the request anyway. I wonder how far this case will go?

Read More:

• Separation of Church and State 101
• Church and State News
• Pledge of Allegiance