When a school district near Milwaukee moved their graduation ceremony inside a church because it was conveniently located, had air conditioning, had more parking and seating to accommodate the crowd, they did not dream they would wind up in court. Some of the students, both former and present, along with their parents filed suit stating it violated the First Amendment. The complaints stated that the First Amendment not only offers citizens freedom of religion, but also prohibits the government from endorsing religion. There is no mention of religion and not content which makes reference to any religion and all of the religious symbols that were not permanent were removed for the ceremonies. There is however, a cross displayed above the stage. Both the federal judge and the appeals court ruled for the school district. Once the case was appealed, the courts reached the opposite conclusion finding that the school district could not move the ceremony to a religions location even though the move itself had nothing to do with religion or any endorsement thereof.
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