First Liberty Institute, a religious liberty defender, along with the law firm Mayer Brown, sent a letter to the district demanding that J.R. Smith Elementary School, in the Wasatch County School District, allow Taryn Israelson to be allowed to repost the flyer for the prayer support chain in the faculty lounge. Israelson teaches first grade.
According to the letter, Israelson had received prior approval from the district’s Human Resources department to post the prayer invitation but was later told by the school principal to take it down.
Keisha Russell of First Liberty Institute said, “The Supreme Court has repeatedly held that the First Amendment requires public school officials to be neutral in their treatment of religion. The principal’s actions demonstrate hostility towards religious expression which the Supreme Court has consistently said is unconstitutional.”
Israelson’s prayer chain, which she began two years ago, allowed staff members to voluntarily sign up to receive and offer prayers. The sign-up sheet was posted in the faculty lounge, along with other personal signs such as advertisements for community plays, motivational quotes, baby shower announcements, and wedding invitations.