Minersville School District
Date: 1939
Region: North America
Subject: Mandatory Flag Salute
Medium: Public School
Artist: Lillian and William Gobit
Confronting Bodies: Minersville School District
Dates of Action: 1939
Location: Minersville, Pennsylvania, United States
Description of Artwork: Mandatory Flag Salute
The Incident: Lillian and William Gobits, Jehovah's Witnessess, were expelled from their public school after refusing to salute the flag, stating that such a gesture of respect to the flag was forbidden by their religion.
Results of Incident: The court found, in an eight to one decision, that the school was within their bounds to require the students to salute the flag. The court stated that saluting the flag is a symbol of national unity, and it is the job of a public school "to promote in the minds of children who attend the common schools an attachment to the institutions of their country."
Source: http://www.oyez.org/cases/1901-1939/1939/1939_690