Religious iconography will no longer adorn the locker room of North Canton Memorial Stadium Complex in Canton, Ohio. A concerned student contacted FFRF to report that a portrait of Jesus appeared near the door leading to the football stadium.
On July 3, FFRF Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert sent a warning letter to the Stark County Educational Services Council, requesting an immediate investigation of the illegal religious display at Hoover High School.
Markert stated: “As you may be aware, a similar situation occurred at Jackson Middle School in Jackson, Ohio. A lawsuit brought by FFRF together with the ACLU of Ohio on behalf of a Jackson Middle School student resulted in a settlement for the permanent removal of the portrait of Jesus and a hefty fine including attorney’s fees against Jackson City School District. . . The Supreme Court has stressed the importance of protecting public school students from these types of messages.”
On Aug. 21, the Council responded that the picture of Jesus hanging in the locker room has been removed.