School District Allows Scholarships from Scientology but not from Atheists

[Capt. Obvious]

A school district in California's high desert refused to include scholarship offers from atheist groups in the lists they distribute to students, the groups claim in court.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation and the Antelope Valley Freethinkers sued Antelope Valley Union School Board and its High School District on constitutional grounds Tuesday in Federal Court.

California's high desert, inland from greater Los Angeles, is a conservative area with many military and retired military personnel.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation annually offers $17,950 in college scholarships, and the Antelope Valley Freethinkers offered $1,750 in scholarships to three winners.

Both groups asked applicants to submit an essay on the challenges of being a "nonbeliever" or "freethinker."

Both say the school district and Palmdale High School refused to make their scholarship announcements available to students, though the district did announce other scholarship offers that "solicited religious speech, required applicants to be religious, and dealt with the historically controversial topics of homosexuality and guns."

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The plaintiffs say the school board has no compelling interest and no rational basis for refusing to list the scholarships, nor does the denial serve any "legitimate government interest."

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Source

[annominous]

1. Thanks for publicizing.NT