ACTIONS

1. Write a letter to the editor of the The Times [Munster / Hammond] descrying the religious discrimination against Irma Patton. Letters of fewer than 300 words may be sent:

* Via the form at http://www.thetimesonline.com/

* Via e-mail: letters@howpubs.com, no attachments accepted

* Via fax: (219) 933-3249 or (219) 465-7298 or (708) 474-2897

* Via snail mail or hand delivery:

The Times, 601 45th Ave., Munster, IN 46321. "The Times reserves the right to edit letters for libel, accuracy and brevity. Include your name and a phone number where you can be contacted for verification. You may contact the Opinion staff at (800) 837-3232."

2. E-mail the members of the Hammond School Board demanding the honoring of Irma Patton's rights to wear her pentagrams and otherwise practice her religion in a manner guaranteed by the U.S. and Indiana Constitutions and relevant caselaw, including allowing her to wear pentagram jewelry. [E-mail addresses for four of the five school board members are on the school district website: http://hammond.k12.in.us ]

3. Call Clark High School to protest their administrator's religious discrimination against Irma Patton. If possible, call twice: once to Dr. Hicks and again to Asst. Principal Pat Prorok. (219) 659-3522

4. Call the Hammond School District offices to demand that

a) the religious discrimination against Irma Patton and other Wiccans end immediately,

b) a full and unequivocal apology be issued to Irma Patton, Wanda Patton, and the public at large by any who were involved in the discrimination or who had responsibility to right it and did not,

c) the district adopt a clear policy of religious tolerance, reviewing all existing and newly proposed rules for potential conflicts with student and staff religious freedom rights, and

d) the district commence Wicca-inclusive religious tolerance education focussing on the rights of religious minorities for all students and staff to prevent future discrimination. If possible, make two phone calls, one to the superintendent, Dr. David Dickson and the other to the assistant superintendent, Tom Knarr. (219) 933-2400

BACKGROUND

Clark High School (Hammond, Indiana) freshman, Irma Patton, was sent home Friday, March 10, 2000, after repeatedly refusing to remove or place tape over her pentagram ring and button.

Clark High administrators were enforcing a rule banning gang paraphernalia and symbols. A Chicago street gang, Latin Kings, uses a simple upright non-circled pentagram (Irma's jewelry has the pentagram in a circle). The school administrators say they thus have the students' (including Irma's) best interests at heart in their attempts to prevent violence and drug activity at the school.

Irma returned to school Monday with tape covering her ring and a coat covering her button. She and her mother, Wanda Patton, are Wiccans who practice with a local coven and are protesting the school's action. They have given media interviews to the local press, including a supportive reporter at the Hammond Times, Jason Thomas. The story has appeared on local television news broadcasts and they are being interviewed by a Chicago television news reporter today. The story has made the AP wire.

When WAL contacted the school, we were handed off to a woman calling herself "Dr. Hicks" who may be the principal. She was ridiculously rude, answering all questions with only a terse "No comment." She has been responding to media requests for interviews with the same lack of aplomb.

Assistant principal Pat Prorok was interviewed and an AP story indicates that he said that, as the pentagram is a "symbol associated with gangs...he did not want to create a double standard."

Tom Knarr, Hammond school district assistant superintendent, confirmed to the press that "any symbol that might be associated with gangs is prohibited." Wanda Patton questioned that by saying that the Christian cross can be associated with gang members but that only her daughter's religious symbols were banned in this manner -- and not even universally, as neither the five-pointed star on the badges police wear in the schools nor those found in every classroom on the American flag were forbidden or required to be covered up.

WAL has given Wanda Patton the direct-access information necessary to reach the Indiana branch of the American Civil Liberties Union. She plans to contact them on her daughter's behalf.

Thank you!
Marla Randolph Stevens
Wiccan Antidefamation League