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Why Is an Atheist High School Student Getting Vicious Death Threats?

Mon, 01/30/2012 - 20:17 — Dave Culver
Section(s): 
Human Rights & Civil Liberties
Youth & Education
  • Even before the judge's decision, Jessica Ahlquist had been ostracized, bullied, and even occasionally threatened over her lawsuit. But when the court ruling came down last week, the climate of harassment and hostility against her escalated out of control, into widespread vilification, venomous bile, and explicit threats of violence, rape and death.
  • Jessica Ahlquist: American Hero(ine)
  • Teen stands tall for First Ammendment

Greta Christina, AlterNet

Submitted by Evergreene Digest Contributing Editor Jeanette Eastman
 
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If you take away just two things from the story about atheist high school student Jessica Ahlquist, and the court case she won last week (Jan 8-14) to have a prayer banner taken out of her public school, let it be these:

  • The ruling in this case was entirely unsurprising. It is 100 percent in line with unambiguous legal precedent, established and re-established over many decades, exemplifying a basic principle of constitutional law.
  • As a result of this lawsuit, Jessica Ahlquist is now being bullied, ostracized and threatened with violence in her community. She has been called "evil" in public by her state representative, and is being targeted with multiple threats of violence, rape and death.

More...
 
Related:
 
Jessica Ahlquist: American Hero(ine), by J, A Way Less Walked
You may not have heard of Jessica Ahlquist, which is unfortunate if such is the case.

Teen stands tall for First Amendment, Freedom From Religion Foundation

  • "I’m a junior in high school at Cranston West, which is in Rhode Island."
  • Transcript of Jessica's speech and Q&A
     

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