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In a victory for Christian culture, authorities have decided that Tabitha Ruiz can wear her rosary to school after all.
The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) sent notification on Wednesday of their decision that Ruiz, a student at Seagoville High School, can openly wear the rosary to school. Campus police had mandated that she remove the cross while on campus, but Ruiz went to battle for her faith.
"It's a good day when religious freedom is restored," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel at Liberty Legal Institute, which handled the case. "This is a victory for every student in DISD and every person who believes in religious freedom." Ruiz, who was prohibited by the school from openly wearing her rosary with a cross, submitted a demand letter last Wednesday to the DISD school board asking the board to overturn the decision of the school.
Ruiz, 16, has worn the rosary at home and to school for years without being reprimanded, and was told by campus police in early September that it was a "gang symbol" and that she would have to remove or conceal it.
A member of the Dallas Police Department's gang unit told the Dallas Morning News that the rosary itself is not a gang symbol, and is only considered such when accompanied by other gang-related symbols, none of which were worn
by Ms. Ruiz.
"This was the only reasonable decision for DISD to make. This exact issue was litigated and decided in federal court over ten years ago," said Roger Byron, attorney at Liberty Legal Institute. "We can't allow the government to start banning religious symbols."
The decision confirms that DISD does not have a written policy that restricts students from wearing religious jewelry, and that Ruiz will not be restricted from wearing the rosary to school.
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The Dallas Independent School District (DISD) sent notification on Wednesday of their decision that Ruiz, a student at Seagoville High School, can openly wear the rosary to school. Campus police had mandated that she remove the cross while on campus, but Ruiz went to battle for her faith.
"It's a good day when religious freedom is restored," said Kelly Shackelford, chief counsel at Liberty Legal Institute, which handled the case. "This is a victory for every student in DISD and every person who believes in religious freedom." Ruiz, who was prohibited by the school from openly wearing her rosary with a cross, submitted a demand letter last Wednesday to the DISD school board asking the board to overturn the decision of the school.
Ruiz, 16, has worn the rosary at home and to school for years without being reprimanded, and was told by campus police in early September that it was a "gang symbol" and that she would have to remove or conceal it.
A member of the Dallas Police Department's gang unit told the Dallas Morning News that the rosary itself is not a gang symbol, and is only considered such when accompanied by other gang-related symbols, none of which were worn
by Ms. Ruiz.
"This was the only reasonable decision for DISD to make. This exact issue was litigated and decided in federal court over ten years ago," said Roger Byron, attorney at Liberty Legal Institute. "We can't allow the government to start banning religious symbols."
The decision confirms that DISD does not have a written policy that restricts students from wearing religious jewelry, and that Ruiz will not be restricted from wearing the rosary to school.
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