Student's Valedictorian Speech Censored

As we reported on Jay Sekulow Live! yesterday, graduating high school senior, Brittany McComb, from Nevada had her speech censored by school officials because of the discussion of her faith.  Brittany was one of three class valedictorians graduating from the Foothill High School.  She had a prepared speech which was reviewed by school officials.  The Clark County School District, in consultation with an attorney from the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU), determined that Brittanys mention of her faith in Christ would be inappropriate. 

Together with the ACLU, the School Board decided to cut short Brittanys speech last Thursday evening.  When a portion of her speech mentioned the impact of her faith in Christ, school officials cut off her microphone.  Over 400 people in attendance were shocked and outraged by this action of censorship allowed by the School District in consultation with the ACLU.  Clark County school officials were reported as saying that since the graduation ceremony is a school-sponsored event, there could be no religious messages that are proselytizing in nature.  This is absolutely incorrect.  The ACLU and the School District are simply wrong.  Brittany was selected to give a speech on a neutral criteria based on her grade point average.  As one of three class valedictorians, she was allowed to give a speech that included her faith and what it meant to her and encouraging other people to follow a similar path.  There is only one word for the action of the School Board and the ACLU here and that is censorship.

We had Brittany on the broadcast yesterday, and she was articulate and direct.  She noted that shed gone through four years of high school that taught her logic as well as about the freedom of speech.  Brittany went on to say in a newspaper article that, Gods the biggest part of my life.  Just like other valedictorians thank their parents, I wanted to thank my Lord and Savior.  In the unedited 750-word version of McCombs speech, she made two references to the Lord, nine mentions of God and only one mention of Jesus Christ.  Yet, the ACLU insisted, and the School Board agreed, to censor her speech. 

Fortunately, throughout the rest of the United States, most graduations went off without any difficulty whatsoever.  The law has actually developed well, and we continue to have good success on behalf of students.  We will keep you posted as Brittanys legal matter progresses.