A school board in Memphis, Tennessee has settled a lawsuit by agreeing to pay $15,000 to The Satanic Temple after several months of legal action that began in March.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) initiated a lawsuit on behalf of The Satanic Temple in March, asserting “serious First Amendment violations” after the school district obstructed the launch of the After School Satan Club at Chimneyrock Elementary School in Cordova. The club sought to rent the school but faced obstacles such as over $2,000 in added security fees, canceled reservations, and other difficulties that were not encountered by other organizations renting the property, such as the Good News Club, an Evangelical group, as noted in a press release by FFRF.
The lawsuit was dropped on Tuesday after the Shelby County Board of Education agreed to a settlement.
The settlement involves the board paying over $15,000, including $14,845 for attorneys’ fees and costs to FFRF, one dollar as nominal damages to The Satanic Temple, and $196.71 for various past fees paid by the Temple for rental reservations that had not been refunded.
According to the FFRF, “We are very pleased that justice has prevailed in this case,” citing the message it sends to school districts about fair treatment of various groups with different viewpoints.
The After School Satan Club offers science- and nature-based activities for children, as reported by the Daily Memphian.
The school board has committed not to discriminate against The Satanic Temple in rental requests, ensuring the Temple follows the same rules as other nonprofit organizations seeking to use the school’s facilities. Additionally, the board will refrain from holding any press conferences regarding the Temple’s lawful use of school property.
In a press conference last December, the district’s expressed hostility towards The Satanic Temple, which led to challenges for the Temple in utilizing the rented space on January 10.