Liberty Counsel Battles OUSD’s Alleged Discrimination, Demanding Equal Access for Good News Clubs
Liberty Counsel argued in U.S. District Court yesterday that the Oakland Unified School District (OUSD) unconstitutionally denied Child Evangelism Fellowship (CEF) NorCal East Bay and its Good News Clubs equal access to school facilities. The lawsuit claims OUSD rejected CEF’s applications to use four campuses for over two years, citing religious grounds and pretextual reasons, violating the First and Fourteenth Amendments and California law.
Liberty Counsel seeks a permanent injunction against OUSD’s actions, noting a similar victory against the Hawaii Department of Education. “The U.S. Supreme Court has ruled that public schools cannot discriminate against Christian viewpoints regarding use of school facilities,” said Liberty Counsel Founder and Chairman Mat Staver. “Therefore, the Oakland Unified School District must give the Good News Clubs equal access and treatment as the similarly situated non-religious groups on public school campuses.”
Discrimination Against Christian Clubs Prohibited
Despite allowing groups like Girls on the Run to use facilities, OUSD has excluded CEF’s Good News Clubs since 2023, which offer free, parent-approved after-school programs focused on spiritual growth and character development. The U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2001 that schools cannot discriminate against Christian clubs when open to secular ones.
Staver says the school owes Good News Clubs equal access. “Child Evangelism Fellowship gives children a biblically based education that includes moral and character development. Good News Clubs should be in every public elementary school and that includes these Oakland schools.”
Defending the Constitution
In a statement following yesterday’s hearing, Liberty Counsel reiterated their goal of an injunction to immediately stop the school from prohibiting the club on campus. “CYMI: Our legal team defended the Constitution in Oakland, California yesterday, asking a federal court to issue an injunction against Oakland Unified School District to stop its discrimination against Christian organizations like Child Evangelism Fellowship’s Good News Clubs.”
The injuction would allow the club to operate. “This would force the school district to allow Christians to use the same public school facilities for after school events that non-religious groups enjoy free of charge. We have litigated dozens of cases like this all across the country and have never lost a single one. Still, they do not learn, until they meet the hammer of Justice. Pray for another resounding victory for religious freedom!”
