Jesus portrait removed from high school locker room (August 21, 2014)

Religious iconography will no longer adorn the locker room of North Canton Memorial Stadium Complex in Canton, Ohio. A concerned student contacted FFRF to report that a portrait of Jesus appeared near the door leading to the football stadium.

On July 3, FFRF Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert sent a warning letter to the Stark County Educational Services Council, requesting an immediate investigation of the illegal religious display at Hoover High School.

Markert stated: ā€œAs you may be aware, a similar situation occurred at Jackson Middle School in Jackson, Ohio. A lawsuit brought by FFRF together with the ACLU of Ohio on behalf of a Jackson Middle School student resulted in a settlement for the permanent removal of the portrait of Jesus and a hefty fine including attorneyā€™s fees against Jackson City School District. . . The Supreme Court has stressed the importance of protecting public school students from these types of messages.ā€

On Aug. 21, the Council responded that the picture of Jesus hanging in the locker room has been removed.

Freedom From Religion Foundation