On March 19, 2024 the Freedom From Religion Foundation filed a lawsuit on behalf of The Satanic Temple relating to discrimination against the After School Satan Club (ASSC) by Memphis-Shelby County Schools in Tennessee. This lawsuit aimed to put the ASSC on the same footing as the evangelical Christian organization, the Good News Club, which was already hosting meetings on district property.
The lawsuit asserted that the Shelby County Board of Education deliberately obstructed the meetings of The Satanic Temple’s after-school club at Chimneyrock Elementary School beginning in November 2023. The district charged The Satanic Temple discriminatory rental and security fees, refused to adequately communicate, and treated the members of the club with hostility.
The Satanic Temple sought the approval of its ASSC reservation requests by Memphis-Shelby County Schools on the same terms as other groups. It also sought to reserve school facilities without the district attempting to charge discriminatory rental fees. Accordingly, the lawsuit asserted that the Shelby County Board of Education’s actions violated the Free Speech Clause and the Free Exercise Clause of the First Amendment.
On July 16, 2024 the lawsuit was voluntarily dismissed after it was successfully settled. The board paid over $15,000 to resolve the suit, including $14,845 in attorneys’ fees and costs to FFRF and cooperating counsel. The board also paid one dollar for nominal damages to The Satanic Temple and $196.71 for various fees previously paid by the Temple in connection with rental reservations that had not yet been refunded.
Further, the Shelby County Board of Education agreed not to discriminate against the organization with regard to its requests to rent and use school board property. The Satanic Temple will be subject to the same rules and requirements as other nonprofit organizations seeking to rent or use the school’s facilities.
The Satanic Temple was represented by FFRF attorneys Sammi Lawrence and Patrick Elliott, with assistance from local counsel Scott Kramer and attorney Matt Kezhaya. The case was in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Tennessee with case number 2:24-cv-02178 and Judge Mark S. Norris presiding.
