Sheriff’s Of ce intervenes on grants for youth program
A couple of facts that might have escaped my notice over the years – and perhaps yours as well:
The of cial motto of the United States, adopted by Congress in 1956 is “In God We Trust.” The fourth verse of the Star Spangled Banner includes this line: “And this be our motto: ‘In God is our trust.’” Of course, we all know that our national Pledge of Allegiance also includes “God.”
So it is with a good deal of confusion that many of us react to Bossier Parish Sheriff Julian Whittington’s revelation that a federal of ce has intervened in his of ce’s standing to secure grants for two youth programs – because of the use of the word “God” and the opportunity for voluntary prayer.
A little history is helpful. Since 2002, the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Of ce has administered the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines Program. This free-ofcharge program is based in physical education designed to teach youth ages 8 to 18 respect for their bodies through physical tness, which instills a resistance to temptations for such as alcohol, drugs or tobacco use.
According to the Sheriff’s of ce, the focus of the program is characterbuilding, along with core values of discipline, leadership, teamwork and commitment. The Young Marines Obligation is:
“From this day forward, I sincerely promise, I will set an example for all other youth to follow, and I shall never do anything that would bring disgrace or dishonor upon God, my Country and its ag, my parents, myself or the Young Marines. These I will honor and respect in a manner that will re ect credit upon them and myself. Semper Fidelis.”
Since 2002, 1,000 youngsters have graduated from the program, which is instructed by a former US Marine and several US Marine volunteers. Over the last several years, the program has been funded in part through a Juvenile Accountability Block Grant, provided by the Louisiana Commission on Law Enforcement.
This eminently successful program has the support of the local school board, 26th Judicial District Court, 26th Judicial District Attorney, the Bossier City Court and Police Department, among others. Although the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines was never intended to be a “diversion program” for adjudicated youth, local judges started sentencing some of those youth to the program.
So in 2012, at the recommendation of some LCLE personnel, the Bossier Sheriff’s of ce set out to create a new and separate program for these courtordered juveniles. And the Sheriff’s of ce submitted a JABG application for the “Bossier Youth Diversion Program.” But apparently, at the direction of a member of the US Department of Justice’s Of ce of Civil Rights, prayer would not be a part of the diversion program. The response from the Sheriff’s Of ce was that “… the time that was allowed for prayer was optional for all the kids. It was led by any child that wanted to volunteer, and if there wasn’t a volunteer, it became a moment of silence.”
And in response to that, the DOJ Of ce of Civil Rights personnel required a letter signed by the Sheriff stating there would be “no prayer activities conducted during the Diversion program.”
Those who know Julian Whittington also know – without me saying – he refused.
But apparently because of this stance, the Bossier Sheriff’s Of ce also has been denied funding for a one-time Juvenile Justice Delinquency Program grant. And apparently that has something to do with the Of ce of Civil Rights opinion on something described as “inherently religious activities.”
Said Whittington in his May 23 letter to Gov. Bobby Jindal:
“At this time, the Bossier Parish Sheriff’s Of ce has been denied funding by the LCLE of both the Bossier Sheriff’s Young Marines Program and the Bossier Youth Diversion Program due to prayer and the mention of God in the programs. This matter is of great importance to me, not because of funding for these programs, but for the principle of this issue. … This is an appalling situation where someone at the Department of Justice, Of ce of Civil Rights, in Washington D.C. could, would and did go to great lengths to prevent even the mere mention of God in any way to the youth in these programs.”
While I write this before the Sheriff’s July 4 “In God We Trust” rally, there’s little doubt that people on both sides of the river will have turned out in signi cant numbers to support his stand – and for so many of us – our stand – on this fundamental issue.
“In God We Trust” is inscribed on our money; God is present in our national anthem and our national pledge.
Perhaps someone should let the US Department of Justice, Civil Rights Of ce know about these little facts.
Marty Carlson, a freelance writer, has been covering local news for the past 13 years. She can be reached via email at m_carlso@bellsouth.net.
Letters to Editor:
Letters to the editor may be sent to: The Forum Attn: Editorial Dept. 1158 Texas Ave., Shreveport, LA 71101 Or email: editor@theforumnews.com
