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The Spokesman-Review Newspaper
Spokane, Washington  Est. May 19, 1883

Boy Can’t Wear ‘God’ Necklace

Associated Press

Joan Longobardo was shocked when her son came home from school without a cherished necklace around his neck, a strap of leather decorated with beads that spelled the word “God.”

A vice principal at Joseph Longobardo’s West Covina, Calif., junior high school had called the necklace “offensive” and ordered the boy to remove it.

Longobardo said she was tempted to let the incident go but decided to complain after praying for guidance.

“I could have been a mother that just said, ‘Well, gee, honey, I guess you’re not supposed to wear it,”’ she said. “But if we just let people run over our rights, then we’re going to lose that right.”

Such incidents, argues Rep. Ernest Istook, make the case that a constitutional amendment is needed to protect religious expression on public property.

The Oklahoma Republican introduced the amendment this month.