Joined by Kountze High School cheerleaders wearing red shirts saying "I cheer for Jesus" and a group of white bearded men called the "Lone Star Santas" Texas Governor Rick Perry signed a law making it legal to say "Merry Christmas" or "Happy Hanukkah" in schools, according to the Huffington Post.
The law, nicknamed the "Merry Christmas" law, had bipartisan support and passed through the House and Senate quickly. The law allows schools to display scenes and symbols associated with religious holidays as long as more than one religion is represented and that the messages don't encourage adherence of one belief over another, according to CNS News.
"I'm proud we are standing up for religious freedom in our state," Perry said. "Freedom of religion doesn't mean freedom from religion, and people of faith often feel like they can't express that faith publicly. HB 308 works to address that by ensuring that people of all faiths are free to use traditional holiday greetings, and display religious scenes and symbols, even on school property. It ensures freedom of expression where, for many students, teachers and administrators, it's most important."
The bill was sponsored by Rep. Dwayne Bohac who said that he was inspired to write the bill after learning that the tree at his son's school was called a "holiday tree" instead of a "Christmas tree," reports the Globe and Mail.
"When I picked up my 6-year-old, first grader from school and found out school districts and teachers felt pressured by political correctness to change the way they refer to 'Christmas trees' and Santa and holiday music, I had enough," Bohac said. "HB 308 protects schools and teachers from ridiculous litigation and restores common sense by placing Supreme Court precedent into Texas Law."
The Kountze High School cheerleaders were in attendance at the event because earlier in the year they were told by school district officials that they could not display banners containing bible verses during football games. Shortly afterward a judge ruled that the right to free speech of the cheerleaders was being violated and they were allowed to hang the banners once again.
"People of faith too often feel they can't express their faith publicly," Perry said. "And if they dare display it, they find themselves under attack from individuals and organizations that have nothing to do with them or their communities for that matter."
As the bill was signed into law the group of Santas applauded and rang bells.
Rabbi Zev Johnson of the Rohr Chabad Jewish Student Center at the University of Texas stood behind Perry as he signed the bill. After it was signed the rabbi joked, "I thought this was the 'Happy Hanukkah' law," reports the Globe and Mail.
