Barnette v. West Virginia Board of Education

Barnette v. West Virginia Board of Education (1943) was a Supreme Court case that ruled students cannot be forced to salute the American flag or recite the Pledge of Allegiance if it conflicts with their religious beliefs. The Court held that such compulsion violates the First Amendment’s protections of religious freedom and free speech. In this case, Jehovah’s Witness students were expelled for refusing to participate in the pledge, and the Court’s decision emphasized that individuals have the right to abstain from expressions they find religiously or personally objectionable, safeguarding personal conscience against government mandates.