Mike Levin: “Under the first amendment, individuals have a sacred right to religious expression. Students have the right to pray…”

“Under the first amendment, individuals have a sacred right to religious expression. Students have the right to pray, read the Bible, initiate prayer clubs, and distribute religious materials. The constitutional amendment before us would go far beyond the first amendment by sanctioning organized prayer and display of religious symbols. Instead of guaranteeing religious freedom, this amendment would actually burden the religious rights of individuals. Questions like this are presented by the amendment: Which prayer? What symbols? What happens to those whose prayer and symbols are not included? How is everyone's religious freedom served by this amendment which would allow a particular prayer to be organized, broadcast over the school intercom and participated in by a teacher or other administrator. The first amendment protects the balance necessary to ensure individual religious freedom. This constitutional amendment jeopardizes that balance so carefully crafted by the founders of our Constitution. Their wisdom prevails to this day and should not be rejected by passing this amendment.”