The West Virginia Legislature is considering a bill dubbed the “West Virginia Student Religious Liberties Act,” which would require public schools to allow prayers to be broadcast at many school-sponsored events.
This bill, H.B. 4069, obligates schools to create a limited public forum any time a student speaks at a school event. This proposal is an obvious maneuver intended to promote prayers at graduations and other official school events. This bill would take away school administrators’ ability to control messaging at their events and to ensure that those events don’t include religious proselytizing.
This bill has passed the West Virginia House of Representatives and will be heard next by the Senate Education Committee. Please urge the members of this committee to vote no on H.B. 4069 and protect the ability of public schools to keep official school events free of religious coercion. Click on the red “Take Action!” link below and feel free to use or adapt the talking points provided.
