A Christian ministry is suing the Lubbock Independent School District in federal court for refusing to accept a $1,600 paid advertisement to be shown on the Jumbotron at the high school football games, even though the school accepts numerous other ads, including religious messages. The censored ad shows an image of Jesus Christ crucified with the sins of the world depicted as tattoos.
For background, click headlines below to read previous articles:
Christian Girl Muzzled, Sues Kansas City School
Jesus' Name Unconstitutional at School Board Meetings: Supreme Court
'Jesus' Booted from Predominantly Jewish Illinois School
Ohio Lawmakers Want Jesus Back in School, Countering Atheists
God NOT Your Idol, Teacher Tells Student -- Michael Jackson Is
-- From "Advertising Christianity With a Site Called 'Jesus Tattoo'" by Emma Green, The Atlantic 1/31/14
What's the best way to share Christianity with as many people as possible? This is the question Texas resident David L. Miller had in mind when he hired advertising firm RD Thomas to help him develop a "new way to share the Bible’s teachings through contemporary marketing methods" last summer.
Their answer: Jesustattoo.com. The site features explainers about Christianity, video testimonials of people sharing their views on faith, and information about how to get in contact with someone from the site to "start a conversation."
Last summer, Miller reached out to the company that sells ad space at Lubbock Independent School District's football stadium, hoping to purchase rights to post an image on the stadium's jumbotron. Although the sales representative, Beverly McBeath, was initially enthusiastic ("THANKS for the business! Woohoo—great way to start the week," she wrote in an email), the school district eventually reneged on the deal, arguing that "the District is prohibited from authorizing this public religious speech ...using the jumbotron, which is governmental property, at a school-related event based on the Establishment Clause."
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "Little Pencil lawyers seek injunction in 'Jesus Tattoo' advertising lawsuit" posted at Lubbock Avalanche-Journal 1/31/14
The local non-profit business behind the “JesusTattoo.org” advertising campaign asked Friday, Jan. 31, for a preliminary injunction preventing Lubbock Independent School District from enforcing policies that have denied the group from placing its advertisement on school facilities.
Little Pencil, founded by former Texas Tech Vice Chancellor David L. Miller, sued the school district earlier this week because LISD refused last fall to accept its advertisement — which depicts Jesus with pejorative tattoos, such as “Outcast” and “Addicted” — for part of the display stream on the giant video screen at Lowrey Field in PlainsCapital Park during football games.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
From "'Jesus Tattoo' group claims LISD violated free speech rights, lawsuit shows" by Walt Nett, Lubbock Avalanche-Journal 1/29/14
U.S. District Judge Sam R. Cummings granted five lawyers with the Scottsdale, Ariz.-based conservative religious group [Alliance Defending Freedom] permission to appear locally in the case.
In addition to allegations LISD is violating Little Pencil’s free speech rights and engaging in discrimination by rejecting the ad while allowing other religious organizations to advertise on school facilities, the suit contends the district was initially untruthful about why it rejected the ad, and then claims the district’s policy banning religious advertising prohibits Little Pencil from receiving the same treatment other Lubbock religious organizations receive.
The concept behind “jesustattoo.org’s” advertising is a combination of billboards, television advertising and a website depicting Jesus as a tattoo artist, changing people’s negative tattoos to positive ones. He is revealed in the ads as then having taken those negative tattoos from others onto his own body.
To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.
Also read the long list of states enacting laws to restore religious liberty to schools.
