A Tennessee school district has agreed to pay $15,000 in legal fees after banning an After School Satan Club from its building. Memphis-Shelby County Schools (MSCS) has agreed to settle with the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), which was representing The Satanic Temple (TST). TST had accused MSCS of discrimination after the district had refused to let TST set up an After School Satan Club on school premises. TST had attempted to rent Chimneyrock Elementary School for its club but alleged the school set multiple barriers to setting up the reservation and included fees that other clubs, such as the Christian Good News Club, did not need to pay. When the club attempted to meet last December, MSCS Interim Superintendent Toni Williams told concerned parents that despite not agreeing with the club, the superintendent was bound to allow it. “Like many of you, I have strong beliefs and resonate deeply with the questions and concerns in our community surrounding a club’s upcoming rental of school space. I want to assure you that I do not endorse or support the beliefs of the organization at the center of the recent headlines. I do, however, support the law. As superintendent, I am duty-bound to uphold our board policies, state laws, and the Constitution,” said Williams. A January 10th meeting of the After School Satan Club was met with protesters.
FFRF accused the District of discrimination for its disparate treatment of the group compared to other religious groups. “The district’s discriminatory and illegal behavior left The Satanic Temple and FFRF with no choice but to sue. The [Satanic] Temple didn’t want special privileges, just to be treated the same as all other organizations renting from the district. The lawsuit asked the court to order the district to approve The Satanic Temple’s reservation requests, treat [The Satanic] Temple fairly, and refund it the discriminatory fees the district forced it to pay.” FFRF cheered the decision to be reimbursed. “We’re glad the district has mutually resolved this case and agreed to treat The Satanic Temple’s club fairly going forward. This settlement should send a message to public schools that the First Amendment applies to all organizations, including minority groups,” said Patrick Elliott, FFRF’s legal director. There have been a number of After School Satan Clubs being established in schools as TST attempts to assert its write as a non-theistic religious movement.