WNYT13 News (Albany, NY) - Student Suspended Again for Wearing Rosary Beads
By: Subrina Dhammi
SCHENECTADY - Raymond Hosier had his rosary beads on when he was dropped off at Oneida Middle School in Schenectady around 7:50am this morning.
His mom, Chantell, waited in her car. Ten minutes later, she got a phone call from the Principal's office. Raymond was suspended again. He says as soon as he walked in the building the Assistant Principal spotted him.
"I went in the office and got my late pass, I was walking out and he told me to tuck them in and I told him I wasn't going to tuck them in," said Raymond.
Raymond was suspended last Wednesday when he says a school administrator told him to take off his purple rosary beads, or tuck them under his shirt.
Raymond has been wearing them everyday for the entire school year in honor of his brother who died five years ago, and his uncle who died just two weeks ago.
The school district's policy is no beads because they may represent gang affiliation. A spokesperson for the district says they will not comment on this matter.
"This is not what we wanted, he wanted to be able to wear his rosary this is ridiculous," said Raymond's mom, Chantell.
An attorney from the American Center for Law and Justice flew in from Michigan today to meet with Raymond Hosier and his Mom.
Attorney Ed White says, what the Schenectady School District is doing is against the law, and he's ready to take this case to federal court.
White sent a demand letter to school administrators today saying under the law, Raymond has a first amendment right to wear his rosary to school.
"It seems to me the school should have better things to do than to pick on a little boy," said Ed White, Raymond's Attorney.
White says the school is overreacting, Raymond's rosary beads are clearly not a gang symbol, and that the district's blanket policy prohibiting beads is unconstitutionally vague.
"Use common sense," said White, looking into the camera. "And I'm talking to the school right now, use common sense from now on."