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State overthrows schools decision on religious banners

Posted at 7:26 PM, Oct 18, 2012
and last updated 2012-10-18 19:26:26-04

(CNN) – A high profile battle over some East Texas High School cheerleaders right to brandish banners with religious messages at school functions, now has the backing of the state.

The controversy centers on cheerleaders in the town of Kountze, TX. The Kountze School district stopped cheerleaders from holding religious banners on the field at football games.

Texas Governor Rick Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott announced the state has intervened in the lawsuit over the Kountze districts rule that prohibits those banners.

The Wisconsin based freedom from the religious foundation contacted the Kountze district saying the US Constitution prohibits government endorsement of religion.
Abbot says the cheerleaders create the banners without school funding and thus they qualify as free speech.