BETHLEHEM, Pa. — The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania said Tuesday that Saucon Valley School District will not reverse its decision to deny the After School Satan Club access to school facilities.
The ACLU said the district informed it of its decision.
- The American Civil Liberties Union of Pennsylvania said Tuesday that Saucon Valley Schools said it will not reverse a decision to not let the After School Satan Club hold a meeting on campus
- The ACLU had given the district until Tuesday to rescind the decision under a threat to pursue legal action
- The ACLU said “it’s unfortunate that the school district is doubling down on its unconstitutional and discriminatory action"
The ACLU, in a March 3 letter, had given the district until Tuesday to rescind a decision by Saucon Valley School District Superintendent Jaime Vlasaty to shut down a planned March 8 meeting of the After School Satan Club.
The ACLU said refusing to reverse the decision "could precipitate litigation against" the district.
On Tuesday, the ACLU said, "As the letter explained, the district may not discriminate against the club or its sponsor, The Satanic Temple, because of threats made by others trying to impede the club’s exercise of its free-speech and religious-freedom rights."
“It’s unfortunate that the school district is doubling down on its unconstitutional and discriminatory action against the club and The Satanic Temple. We are consulting with our clients as they carefully consider their next steps.”Sara Rose, deputy legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania
Sara Rose, deputy legal director for the ACLU of Pennsylvania, on Tuesday said in a statement that “it’s unfortunate that the school district is doubling down on its unconstitutional and discriminatory action against the club and The Satanic Temple.
"We are consulting with our clients as they carefully consider their next steps.”
Efforts to reach Vlasaty for comment late Tuesday were unsuccessful.
In its original letter to the district, the ACLU conceded that people may find the Satanic Temple's beliefs "controversial or divisive," but said that shouldn't stop it from enjoying the same religious freedoms that other groups do.
District officials originally approved a mid-February request to use space at Saucon Valley Middle School for the after-school program. The district said it had allowed other religious groups to use facilities.
A few days later, a flier advertising the Satan Club appeared on Facebook, and controversy quickly spread.
Vlasaty initially released a message defending the district’s decision saying, “Religious groups are among those the district has allowed [renting] our facilities over the years. By law, the district cannot discriminate among groups wishing to use the SVSD facilities.”
Later the same day, a caller left a voicemail threatening a shooting at the school because of the Satan Club, prompting the superintendent to cancel school the next day.
Ceu “Van” Uk, 20, of Charlotte, North Carolina, was charged with making terroristic threats, according to a statement from the Northampton County District Attorney's Office.
He is scheduled to face extradition to Pennsylvania to face the charges.
Vlasaty later decided to not let the Satan Club use district property, saying it violated district policy when it failed to clearly communicate that the district was not sponsoring its activities, which is a violation of district policy.
The ACLU's open letter also condemns the threats previously made against the school, agreeing that they are "unacceptable."
