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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, Cheerleaders from Kountze High School took a stand |
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for their freedom of religious expression when they fought for the |
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right to display banners bearing spiritual messages at football |
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games; and |
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WHEREAS, In September 2012, the squad began to include Bible |
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verses and other religious sayings on the hand-lettered signs that |
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members of the Kountze Lions football team burst through as they |
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make their entrance onto the field; the students' actions caught |
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the attention of the school district, which, out of concern that the |
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banners would be interpreted as school-sanctioned, ordered them to |
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desist; and |
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WHEREAS, Unwilling to back down, the students made contact |
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with an attorney in Beaumont and filed a lawsuit against the |
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district; they were soon joined by members of the Liberty |
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Institute, a nonprofit organization that provides pro bono legal |
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assistance to clients who believe that their religious liberties |
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have been violated; and |
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WHEREAS, Additional support came from across the community |
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and beyond, as the cheerleaders' plight drew national attention and |
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ignited a debate on the constitutionality of the district's |
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decision; Kountze citizens appeared at games with their own signs |
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hailing the efforts of the cheerleaders, and both Governor Rick |
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Perry and Attorney General Greg Abbott publicly spoke in their |
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behalf; and |
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WHEREAS, In mid-October, the Kountze High School |
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cheerleaders achieved a significant victory when a Hardin County |
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district court judge issued an injunction to allow the squad to |
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display the banners pending the outcome of a trial in June 2013; and |
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WHEREAS, By defending this small yet meaningful act, the |
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young women on the Kountze High School cheerleading squad have |
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delivered a message that has resonated loudly across the country, |
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and their perseverance has earned them the admiration of many |
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people; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 83rd Texas |
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Legislature hereby commend the cheerleading squad at Kountze High |
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School for their courage and tenacity in standing up for their right |
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to express their religious beliefs; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for the Kountze High School cheerleaders as an expression |
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of high regard by the Texas House of Representatives. |