A school nurse in Texas made a Charlie Brown-themed Christmas poster with a bible verse on it, but then was forced by school administrators to remove it from her office door.
Dedra Shannon, a nurse aide at Patterson Middle School in Killeen, Texas, had to take down her Christmas decoration because it "imposed personal beliefs on students," local ABC affiliate KXXV reported Tuesday.
The poster read: "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Savior which is Christ the Lord ... That's what Christmas is all about Charlie Brown." Below the quote is a picture of the character Linus, Charlie Brown's best friend.
The forced removal of the Christmas decoration prompted a meeting Tuesday night with the Killeen Independent School District board and upset parents from central Texas who supported having the Charlie Brown-themed poster.
One veteran who was unhappy with the school's decision to take down the poster said he fought to protect the First Amendment.
"We fought, we've died, we've bleed, we've served–for that reason, for free speech," C.J. Gresham said.
Shannon's attorney, Jonathan Saenz, said that she did not break any federal or state laws by putting the poster on her door.
"Ms. Shannon's display, nothing about it in federal or state law requires that you censor and take down this poster," Saenz said.
The school board felt differently, voting six to one to forbid the poster from being featured on Shannon's door.
"Tonight, the Killeen ISD school board has decided to go rogue on the First Amendment," Saenz said of the decision to not allow the poster.
Shannon was disappointed as well.
""I am deeply saddened that Killeen ISD decided to ban my Christmas display," she said after the school board vote.
The president of the Killeen Independent School District was the only one to vote in favor of Shannon being allowed to put her poster back up, KXXV noted.
Shannon's attorney said if the case does go to court they will a good chance of winning, noting that they have received support from the Texas attorney general, Ken Paxton.