West Virginia State Board Of Education v. Barnette, 319 U.S. 624 (1943)

"To believe that patriotism will not flourish
if patriotic ceremonies are voluntary and spontaneous
instead of a compulsory routine is to make an unflattering
estimate of the appeal of our institutions to free minds."
--Supreme Court, 1943.

West Virginia, 1942. By state order, all teachers and pupils must pledge allegiance to the flag. Refusal is "an Act of insubordination."

The Bible, says "Thou shalt not make any graven images, thou shalt not bow down to them... nor serve them." Jehovah Witnesses believe the laws of God above those of men. To them the flag is an image; saluting it would be sacrilege. 2000 Jehovah Witness children are expelled; the state prosecutes their parents for causing delinquency.

In 1943 the U.S. Supreme Court prohibits mandatory pledges. Justice Robert H. Jackson states it this way: "If there is any fixed star in our constitutional constellation, it is that no official, high or petty, can prescribe what shall be orthodox in politics, nationalism, religion, or other matters of opinion, or force citizens to confess by word or act their faith therein."

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AMENDMENT 1 Freedom of Religion, Speech, and Assembly

Passed by Congress September 25, 1789. Ratified December 15, 1791.

Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion, or prohibiting the free exercise thereof; or abridging the freedom of speech, or of the press; or the right of the people peaceably to assemble, and to petition the Government for a redress of grievances. [^].

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