pawncomments

Russ Lemon Columns, Toledo Blade

Just asking: Is Pawn being "used" by The Rutherford Institute to promote a religious agenda? Rossford High School prohibited the Christian rock band from playing during a school anti-drug assembly but gave the OK for an after-school performance. It was a compromise in the best sense of the word. That's why it was so disheartening to read that Pawn, with The Rutherford Institute providing legal assistance, filed a lawsuit against the Rossford school district.
2/27/05

There have been bigger wastes of time and money — Congress intervening in the Terri Schiavo case immediately comes to mind but that doesn't make the lawsuit filed by Pawn any less annoying.
In December, you'll recall, Rossford High School decided to cancel an in-school performance by the Christian rock band.
Later, as the controversy swirled, the school said it would allow the band to play at an after-school event. It was a good example of a compromise solution each side had to give a little.
But then — trumpets, please! — the Virginia-based Rutherford Institute came to Pawn's rescue. On Feb. 17, four of the five band members filed a lawsuit, asking for a ruling that they should have been allowed to play at the student assembly.
Last week, we learned the Rossford school district has accrued $12,500 in legal expenses.
Unlike Pawn, which has the Rutherford Institute in its corner, Rossford taxpayers are stuck with a sizable legal bill.
Take a step back, Pawn. You're being selfish. The cost to taxpayers for your ego trip is $12,500 and counting.


Home Ruling Synopsis
Our primary goal as a band is to share the excitement of Christ with those around us. Pawnband.com The controversy continues as Pawn, with the help of Christians across the US, tries to bring an understanding of a Christian's rights back into the public schools!....The CD contains high-energy rap-rock/rock with Christ at it's core!....all while unabashedly proclaiming the name of Jesus Christ-the true reason for the season! Pawnband.com "I hope we can get more publicity to take Jesus Christ to more levels...." Kyle Kleeberger, Pawn Rossford High School senior Kyle Kleeberger never suspected losing a gig at school would earn his Christian rock band so much attention. Toledo Blade 12/17/04 Pawn's mission statement is "to spread the word of God to those who do not know him," and the Christian rock band from Rossford has gotten an unexpected boost from a concert that never happened. Toledo blade 1/8/05 The band....sings songs that make frequent references to Jesus and God. Toledo Blade 12/21/04 (article from Blade staff writer) Pawn's songs regularly make reference to Jesus and God, said David Kleeberger, the band's manager who is also a member of the Rossford school board. Toledo Blade 12/15/04 Unlike many Christian rock bands, Pawn does not include many overtly religious references or Christian jargon in the lyrics. Toledo Blade 1/8/05 (article from the Blades Religion editor) "I would say about 50 percent of our songs say the word 'God,'" Mr. Montgomery said. "I don't think we specifically say Jesus in any of them...." Travis Montgomery Toledo Blade 1/8/05 "Even though this band's concert and their message will not be presented during school hours, consideration is being given to offering the opportunity for an after-school concert." Luci Gernot 12/20/05 "The board was receptive to the idea of a settlement, so long as it did not include the band playing during instructional hours." School district attorneys response to Pawns settlement offer David Kleeberger, the band's manager who is also a member of the school board....said he'd like to see the band play both during school hours and after school. Toledo Blade 12/21/04 "They're not giving us anything in having us play after school...." Travis Montgomery, Pawn "I'm hoping because of what happened to us, that more schools and people will be aware of what their rights are instead of living in fear of getting sued." Kyle Kleeberger Toledo Blade 12/17/04 "I don't want anyone suing the schools over this." David Kleeberger, Father of band member, band manager, Rossford School board member "This is certainly not something the band has tried to force in any way...." Travis Montgomery, Pawn The school assembly/concert featuring themselves was Pawns idea. Suing the School was also Pawns idea. “We want to avoid litigation, but we will take it to the next step.” Mark Montgomery, Pawn "....the band was asked to play, then banned from playing...." Travis Montgomery, Pawnband.com forum According to Pawns civil complaint, 2 band members approached Rossford High schools Principal asking if Pawn could play a concert during a yet unscheduled school assembly. The school did not request or ask Pawn for a concert. "We asked to speak directly with the (School) board. Other than the 3 minutes per person....they refused." Travis Montgomery Rossford Public School officials stopped speaking with Pawn when they were put under the threat of litigation. “I really believe that my decision was sound, and I do not plan to change it. I don’t feel that the threat of litigation should change what I believe is right.” Rossford Public Schools Superintendent Luci Gernot "We're still standing behind her just as we stated earlier. We're not there to negotiate. This is what our decision is." Rossford school board President Joseph Minarcin Toledo Blade 2/18/05 "We're asking for the court to declare that a band like Pawn is entitled to perform a secular performance in a public school..." Tom Condit, The Rutherford Institute Toledo Blade 2/18/05 Pawns intended performance created no risk whatsoever of an Establishment Clause violation....Pawns intended anti-drug, anti-alcohol theme simply does not trigger it. Plaintiffs motion for judgement "I want to thank you for supporting our band in its efforts to try to bring Christ to willing public school students." Travis Montgomery, posting at Heavenly Sanctuary.com.
	Russ Lemon Columns, Toledo Blade Just asking: Is Pawn being "used" by The Rutherford Institute to promote a religious agenda? Rossford High School prohibited the Christian rock band from playing during a school anti-drug assembly but gave the OK for an after-school performance. It was a compromise in the best sense of the word. That's why it was so disheartening to read that Pawn, with The Rutherford Institute providing legal assistance, filed a lawsuit against the Rossford school district. 2/27/05 There have been bigger wastes of time and money — Congress intervening in the Terri Schiavo case immediately comes to mind but that doesn't make the lawsuit filed by Pawn any less annoying. In December, you'll recall, Rossford High School decided to cancel an in-school performance by the Christian rock band. Later, as the controversy swirled, the school said it would allow the band to play at an after-school event. It was a good example of a compromise solution each side had to give a little. But then — trumpets, please! — the Virginia-based Rutherford Institute came to Pawn's rescue. On Feb. 17, four of the five band members filed a lawsuit, asking for a ruling that they should have been allowed to play at the student assembly. Last week, we learned the Rossford school district has accrued $12,500 in legal expenses. Unlike Pawn, which has the Rutherford Institute in its corner, Rossford taxpayers are stuck with a sizable legal bill. Take a step back, Pawn. You're being selfish. The cost to taxpayers for your ego trip is $12,500 and counting. 3/27/05 Memo to Pawn: Just in case you were thinking about changing names (which would free yourself from the "Christian rock band" tag and open up possibilities for gigs at public schools), I did a Google search and discovered that Martyr Complex is already taken. 6/12/05 The Rossford school board voted 3-2 last week to enter into settlement discussions with the Christian rock band Pawn. This, after the school district spent $148,000 to defend itself in a lawsuit filed by the band — a case which the school district won. David Kleeberger, the board's president, voted in favor of the measure. One of his sons is a member of Pawn and, according to the band's Web site, Mr. Kleeberger is the band's manager. ("To book a gig, or get gig information, contact Manager Dave Kleeberger ...") Had Mr. Kleeberger recused himself from last week's vote — gee, do ya think?!? — the school district would not be entering into settlement discussions with his son's band. More.... 9/17/06
	Christian students in ACLU crosshairs Jerry Falwel, World Net daily 12/18/04 Officials at an Ohio high school have canceled the appearance of a local rock band because the group's message is too controversial. No, the band doesn't emulate Marilyn Manson, promote skinhead philosophies or bite the heads off bats, ala Ozzie Osbourne. More.... Legal issues a strong suit for schools in Rossford, Roberta De boar, Toledo Blade, 10/26/06 Let’s pretend you’re an elected member of a public board. Oh, heck: Let’s say it’s the suburban Rossford school board. No, wait. Even better, let’s say you are the president of that board, and your name is, oh, I dunno, David Kleeberger. And let’s say your school board found itself wading in a big ole patch of legal quicksand, a mucky swamp of righteous speechifying, competing sets of lawyers, somber court filings — the whole nine yards. Let’s say it all started after your superintendent decided to not let a Christian rock group — Pawn, let’s call them — play at a school assembly. Turns out some folks worried that it could appear as if the district endorsed a particular religion. More.... Pawns in a game, Toledo Blade editorial 10/28/06 Were it not for the fact that two fathers with sons in two local bands sit on the Rossford Board of Education, there might be no controversy whatsoever with one of the groups. But as it is, the two board members have stubbornly kept the legal dispute over the Christian rock band Pawn going - much to the financial benefit of the band. More.... ONLY A PAWN IN THEIR GAME, Strangeroad.com Christian rock band Pawn dropped their suit against the Rossford school district. The upshot is that these good Christians cost the taxpayers of the Toledo suburb over $150,000 in legal fees, and a payment to the conservative Rutheford Institute. More.... Band canned: Court upholds School decision ,au.com Public high school officials in Ohio exercised sound judgment when they prohibited a Christian band from headlining a school-organized assembly. Not surprisingly, a Religious Right legal outfit attacked that judgment as being hostile to religion. The Rutherford Institute represented the student musical band, called Pawn, in a federal lawsuit against the Rossford Exempted Village School District. Rutherford attorneys argued that school officials had violated the band’s constitutional rights and discriminated against it because of its religious beliefs. A federal judge disagreed. Last week, U.S. District Judge Jack Zouhary dismissed the lawsuit and sided with public school officials. More....

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