(CHICAGO, IL 06/27/2022) - The Chicago chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, (CAIR-Chicago), the nation’s largest Muslim civil rights and advocacy organization, expressed disappointment after The Supreme Court of the United States (SCOTUS) sided with a public-school assistant football coach for leading Christian prayers at the 50-yard line at school games. The Court, in a 6-3 decision, claims the coach has religious freedom to pray at public events as an authority figure of the school—at the expense of students' religious rights.

SEE: Supreme Court rules for former coach in public school prayer case

Former Coach Joseph Kennedy allegedly conducted pep-talk prayers on the playing field, inviting media and politicians, while encouraging others to join him. Parents of student athletes were alarmed at his alleged coercion for youth to partake these prayers and complained to the district. Bremerton School District, Kennedy’s employer, requested he stop his public worship, encouraging him to do so in private for personal reasons. Kennedy moved to sue the district. Eventually, the issue bubbled up to SCOTUS.

SEE: A coach coerced students to pray, and the Supreme Court just said it was OK

The decision comes as a shock, especially with precedent decisions ruling against prayer at public schools, like in the Engel v. Vitale case in 1962.

"I respect prayer and engage in prayers myself, but prayer must be in the realm of freedom of conscience and belief," Executive Director Ahmed Rehab said. "It is not my right to coerce someone who does not share my beliefs into my prayer, particularly while abusing my authority over them, most of all when students beholden to me as a teacher or coach. The court denied the students any basic semblance of the right to religious freedom that they exaggerated in favor of the coach, which is quite chilling.”

“This decision further alienates Muslim students, who are already disproportionately impacted by bullying, harassment, and discrimination in school," expressed Staff Attorney Emma Melton. "In the past school year, more than 20 cases of school bullying were reported to CAIR-Chicago, all alleging an element of Islamophobia or xenophobia. The separation of church and state has been integral to the U.S. social economy as it allows individuals to hold their own beliefs as publicly or privately as they wish."

"The Court fails to acknowledge how this decision could impact students’ sense of safety while at school. Students who stand against these public displays of religion could likely face retaliation by other students, or faculty. It’s a slap in the face for The Court to support public prayer at school events when Muslim students are faced with animosity for wanting to pray privately in those same halls.“

CAIR-Chicago is the Chicago Chapter of America’s largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Our mission is to defend civil rights, fight bigotry, and promote tolerance.

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CONTACT: CAIR-Chicago Executive Director Ahmed Rehab, 202-870-0166, arehab@cair.com; CAIR-Chicago Communications Coordinator Saadia Pervaiz, 312-374-2131, spervaiz@cair.com;