Grade 12“Promoting Respect” Workshop

“Religious freedom” through attireGreater Mankato Diversity Council

Introduction

And you

Rules and expectations• Respect the rights, beliefs and opinions of all participants.• Use respectful tone of voice, non-judgmental, respectful words, and

respectful nonverbal communication. • Respectful as opposed to disrespectful communication. – Examples: “My religion does not believe that” as opposed to

“Your religion is crazy to believe that.” • Other examples of speaking with respect:– I have a question about ……– Can you tell me more about ….– I think it is interesting that you …..– That reminds me of ….– I used to think ……but now I think …..– Thank you for telling me more about ……– Can you please tell me why…..

First Amendment

Freedom of:

Religion Speech Press

1st Amendment: Freedom of Religion

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”

The government can’t make one religion the official religion of the U.S.

1st Amendment: Freedom of Religion

“Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof …”

The government can’t interfere with anyone’s religious beliefs or with their right not to practice a religion.

For example:

•Government cannot stop Christians from going to church.•Government cannot stop Jews from believing in one God.•Government cannot stop Muslims from praying 5 times a

day.•Government cannot stop Buddhists from praying in

Sanskrit.•Government cannot make Sikhs cut their hair.•Government cannot force a nonbeliever to believe.

Objectives of this lesson

• Over 310 religions and denominations in the US + atheists and agnostics.

• Impossible to cover every aspect of religious freedom in 45 minutes.

• We are going to look at one aspect of religious freedom as an example: religious attire and head coverings.

• There are some complex issues regarding religious attire.

Religious freedom allows us to wear any religious attire

Female head coverings

Limitations of First Amendment Rights

Religious practices that seem to be protected by the First Amendment can sometimes become the subject of controversy and legal challenge.

You are the judge/court

• Two actual court cases• Each group is assigned to one of them• Read the case and discuss within the

group• Decide by majority• Report

CASE #1: Sultaana Freeman v. State of Florida Dept. of Highway Safety and Motor VehiclesIn 2002 The American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) of Florida filed a religious discrimination lawsuit against the State of Florida on behalf of Sultaana LaKiana Myke Freeman, a Muslim woman who wears niqab and does not reveal her face to men outside her family. The complaint alleged that state officials violated Freeman's rights when they revoked her driver's license because she refused to replace her old driver's license photograph in which her face was covered with one showing her entire face.

Case1: Actual Court Decision:

In 2003:– May 27-29 – Freeman v. State of Florida Dept. of

Highway Safety and Motor Vehicles took place in Circuit Court under Judge Janet C. Thorpe.

– Judge Thorpe ruled against Freeman.– Freeman appealed. In 2004:– The Appellate Court heard oral arguments.In 2006: – Original decision was upheld.

CASE #2: U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission v. Abercrombie & Fitch

In 2008, Samantha Elauf applied for a job at Abercrombie and Fitch (A&F) and scored sufficient points to get hired, including passing A&F’s “Look Policy” which scored her appearance. However, later her employment was denied because she wore hijab.

Case 2: Actual Court DecisionOn June 1st , 2015, the Supreme Court ruled 8-1 in favor of a young Muslim woman who was denied a job at Abercrombie & Fitch because she wore a headscarf. The high court's opinion states that:"Religious practice is one of the protected characteristics that cannot be accorded disparate treatment (unequal treatment) and must be accommodated." In a statement, Abercrombie & Fitch says it has updated some of its hiring and personnel policies since Elauf's lawsuit:

"We have made significant enhancements to our store associate policies, including the replacement of the 'look policy' with a new dress code that allows associates to be more individualistic; changed our hiring practices to not consider attractiveness; and changed store associates' titles from 'Model' to 'Brand Representative' to align with their new customer focus."

Closing

• Why do you think it is important to understand the freedom of religion?

• We reviewed the examples of religious attires. Sometimes, it is easy to tell what religion others believe based on their attire. Do you think we can respect people who believe in religions different from ours (or no religion)? How?

Feedback1= Strongly Agree 2=Agree 3=Disagree 4=Strongly Disagree

1. Today I learned more about the basic facts of the First Amendment to the Constitution

2. In the group activity, using the example of religious attire, we discussed how religious freedom might conflict with Law

3. I learned that employers have to have reasonable accommodations regarding religion and cannot discriminate based on religious attire.

4. From our class session, I can see the value of standing up for my own religious beliefs and practices and others.

Please write any comment on this presentation at the bottom of the sheet.

Thank you!