Suit Challenges Middle School's Refusal To Recognize Religious Club

On Wednesday, the mother of a middle school student in Atlanta filed suit in a Georgia federal district court challenging the refusal by school officials to give formal recognition and free use of meeting facilities at Sutton Middle School to a Christian student group, the STS Club. In Shelton v. Atlanta Public Schools, (ND GA, filed 3/25/2009), the complaint (full text) alleges that school authorities violated the Equal Access Act, as well as the 1st and 14th Amendments in using various excuses to keep STS Club out of the school. Eventually the club was formed, but it is required to pay rent to use facilities before school, and it is denied other benefits given to recognized student organizations. Alliance Defense Fund announced the filing of the lawsuit.