Somewhere in Nassau County, where God, Country, and family come first, many are upset with a decision to stop a Yulee High student from mentioning God during his morning announcements. [2] Incredible but true, a Nassau County high school student has been told to stop concluding morning announcements with “God bless America” after complaints from two atheist classmates led to the threat of a lawsuit. [1] “We have been getting calls all day,” said the school receptionist. [2] Amy Richmond has a child in Yulee High; she is not pleased with the decision. “Why is it not okay for a student to say God Bless America,” said Richmond. [2] “Why is it a problem,” said Richmond. ” We have had posters with the LGBT message and no one has a problem with that.” [2] The daily reference to God went on for several weeks at Yulee High before the offended students took their grievence to the American Humanist Association, a nonprofit atheist rights organization. It wasn’t a problem until two students complained. “They are anonymous,” said Legal Director Dave Niose. [2] The group’s legal center sent a letter to the school threatening to sue, citing the First Amendment clause establishing separation of church and state. “It is inappropriate and unlawful for a public school to start the school day with an official statement over the intercom stating “God bless America.” [1] “Such religious messages violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and must therefore be stopped immediately,” the letter states. [2] On its website this week, the humanist association said it received a prompt response. “Students at Yulee High are free to express their beliefs all day long, but not during the school announcement,” Nassau school district spokesperson Sheryl Wood told First Coast News on Wednesday. “This student deviated from the script and has been instructed do not deviate from the script; he is a good student and he meant no harm.” [2] “He was not disciplined,” spokesperson Sharyl Wood, added. [2]
