After school Satan Club gets permission from the federal judge who says the school district is in Pennsylvania
After-school satan clubs must be able to meet on campuses in a Pennsylvania school district to protect free speech, a federal judge has ruled.
The clubs are run by The Satanic Temple (TST), which uses images of Satan to counter religious conversion. The clubs have sparked controversy in recent months, with rallies for students at schools in Virginia and California.
The latest green light for the club follows parental outcry after flyers circulated announcing it will be held at Saucon Valley Middle School, Hellerstown.
A decision to allow it was subsequently reversed by the district superintendent, who spoke of protecting the “safety and welfare” of students following “violent threats” against the school.
The district was overruled Monday when a judge ruled it had “undoubtedly” violated the First Amendment rights of the Salem, Massachusetts-based Satanic Temple.
The After School Satan Club has received permission from a federal judge at Saucon Valley Middle School, Hellerstown
The district argued that the club had violated policy regarding consent forms that did not make it clear that the club was not sponsored by the district.
The Satanic Temple website describes the club as a way to teach without conversion
Monday’s ruling by U.S. District Court Judge John M. Gallagher read: “While the opponents of The Satanic Temple, Inc. may challenge the immunity of this controversially named organization, the immunity of the protections of the First Amendment must prevail.”
While the ‘First Amendment is often inconvenient’ depending on one’s perspective or responsibilities, this discomfort ‘does not absolve the government of its obligation to tolerate speech’.
The national American Civil Liberties Union, the ACLU of Pennsylvania and Dechert LLP filed a lawsuit against the school district on behalf of The Satanic Temple in March.
They alleged First Amendment violations, allegations Judge Gallagher found “credible.”
“In a victory for free speech and freedom of religion, a federal court has ruled that the Saucon Valley School District must allow the After School Satan Club to meet in district facilities,” the ACLU said.
The lawsuit came after District Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty made a decision to allow school grounds and facilities in the district to be hosted by the ASSC.
Superintendent Vlasaty argued that the club had violated district policies regarding ASSC permission forms that do not make it clear that the club was not sponsored by the district.
The decision came after a North Carolina man was charged with making “violent threats” toward schools in Saucon Valley for allowing the ASSC to proceed.
A 20-year-old man named Ceu ‘Van’ Uk reportedly said he was going to ‘come in there and shoot everyone’ in a voicemail, Northampton daily voice reported.
Saucon Valley schools were closed on February 22 due to a threat investigation.
North Carolina man Ceu ‘Van’ Uk charged with making ‘violent threats’ towards Saucon Valley schools
“Our community has experienced chaos. Our students, staff and teachers have faced a threat to their safety and well-being’, Chief Inspector Vlasaty wrote at the time.
“The severity of feelings of instability, fear and anxiety has been great.”
The ASSC’s stated goals include providing “a safe and inclusive alternative” to evangelical religious school clubs such as the Good News Club, saying it will only establish clubs where religious groups are already active.
“We applaud the court for recognizing the threat to the First Amendment rights of the After School Satan Club and The Satanic Temple and preventing Saucon Valley School District from continuing its brutal discrimination,” said Sara Rose of the Pennsylvania ACLU in a statement.
“If a school district opens up its facilities, it cannot discriminate on the basis of religious beliefs.”
The Satantic Temple describes itself as “a non-theistic religion that sees Satan as a literary figure representing a metaphorical construct of rejecting tyranny and defending the human spirit and soul.”
The ASSC claims it is not trying to convert children to a religious ideology, but “supporting children to think for themselves.”
“All After School Satan Clubs are based on Seven Fundamental Teachings activities and emphasize a scientific, rationalistic, non-superstitious worldview,” it says.
The latest decision comes after another After School Satan Club was allowed to meet at an elementary school in Chesapeake, Virginia following similar controversy.
Protests were held by parents outside BM Williams Primary School after the club was allowed to take place there
Parents staged protests outside BM Williams Primary School in Chesapeake, Virginia after the club was allowed to take place there
The ASSC’s stated goals include providing “a safe and inclusive alternative” to evangelical religious school clubs such as the Good News Club
Protests were held by parents outside BM Williams Primary School after the club was allowed to take place there.
Superintendent Dr. Jared Cotton said at the time: “Preferring one religion over another or one organization over another because of its mission or its lawful, unpopular activities is called content discrimination and would be against the United States Constitution .
“As previously stated, the ASSC is not a school district-approved club and no district employee acts as a club sponsor.”
The first meeting took place on February 16 and was reportedly attended by nine students.
Less than a week later, the primary school was forced to evacuate following a bomb threat, with an email seen by local media stating that the school was promoting “devil worship.”