“I want to make it very, extremely, abundantly clear, that yes, I do in fact hold animus toward LifeWise Academy.”

That’s Everett, Washington school board director Charles Adkins, admitting on the record that he holds hostility toward a Christian organization. At a public board meeting. While his district is being sued for religious discrimination.

The lawyers couldn’t have asked for better evidence.

Bibles in Sealed Envelopes

The lawsuit, filed in federal court, alleges Everett Public Schools is forcing elementary students to keep Bibles and religious materials “sealed in an envelope” and hidden inside their backpacks.

Students can’t access these materials for the rest of the school day — even during free periods when other students read comic books, secular magazines, or whatever they want.

Bible? Seal it up. Hide it away. Pretend it doesn’t exist.

This is happening in America. In 2026.

LifeWise Academy’s “Crime”

The program at the center of the lawsuit is LifeWise Academy — a national nonprofit that provides off-campus, parent-led Bible instruction during “released time” like lunch or recess.

The program is entirely voluntary. It requires parental consent. It uses no public funds. It takes place off campus.

The Supreme Court explicitly upheld this kind of religious-release program as constitutional in 1952’s Zorach v. Clauson.

But Everett Public Schools decided to treat LifeWise participants as “second-class citizens” anyway.

The Pattern of Discrimination

According to the lawsuit, school officials:

Barred LifeWise from participating in community fairs where secular organizations were welcome.

Prohibited LifeWise from displaying informational flyers in school lobbies — next to flyers from non-religious groups.

Implemented a “burdensome” permission slip policy requiring parents to submit new written authorization every single week.

Forced students to keep religious materials hidden and inaccessible throughout the school day.

Each restriction targeted LifeWise specifically because it’s religious. Secular organizations faced no similar obstacles.

“Homophobic Bullies” and “Christian Nationalism”

Board Director Adkins didn’t just admit animus — he explained why.

“It is an organization of homophobic bullies who are active and willing participants in the efforts to bring about an authoritarian theocracy.”

He rallied the board to stand up against “Christian nationalism, fascism and White supremacy” and not allow LifeWise to “further brainwash our kids to be full of hate, anger and ignorance.”

Homophobic bullies. Authoritarian theocracy. Fascism. White supremacy. Brainwashing kids with hate.

All because parents want their children to learn about the Bible during lunch.

He Said the Quiet Part Out Loud

In most discrimination cases, lawyers have to prove discriminatory intent through circumstantial evidence. Patterns of behavior. Statistical disparities. Internal communications.

Adkins just… admitted it. On camera. At a public meeting.

“Yes, I do in fact hold animus.”

First Liberty Institute attorneys probably couldn’t believe their luck. The school board member handed them the case on a silver platter.

Seventy Years of Precedent

The legal framework here isn’t complicated.

In 1952, the Supreme Court ruled religious-release programs are constitutional as long as they’re off-campus, privately funded, and voluntary.

In June 2024, the Court reiterated in Mahmoud v. Taylor that public schools “may not place unconstitutional burdens on religious exercise.”

Everett Public Schools is placing unconstitutional burdens on religious exercise. They’re doing it openly. Their board member admitted the motivation.

This case should be a slam dunk.

The District’s Defense

The school district’s attorneys denied the allegations as “factually inaccurate.”

“Simply because your client disagrees that those policies and procedures should apply to it… does not make them unconstitutional.”

That’s technically true. Disagreement isn’t proof of unconstitutionality.

But the board director admitting he holds “animus” toward the Christian group? That’s pretty good evidence of unconstitutional motivation.

Good luck explaining to a federal judge why students must keep Bibles sealed in envelopes while classmates read comic books.

Second-Class Citizens

The lawsuit uses that phrase deliberately: “second-class citizens.”

That’s what religious students become when schools treat their faith as something shameful to be hidden away. When Bible materials must be sealed and inaccessible. When Christian organizations face barriers that secular groups don’t.

The message to children is clear: your beliefs are unwelcome here. Your faith is problematic. Hide it.

That’s not religious neutrality. That’s religious hostility. And it’s exactly what the First Amendment prohibits.

LifeWise’s National Reach

This isn’t some fringe organization.

LifeWise Academy operates more than 300 public school programs across 12 states. More than 35,000 students are enrolled to learn about the Bible through released-time programs.

The model works. It’s constitutional. It’s popular with parents.

But in Everett, Washington, one school board member decided that teaching children about the Bible is “fascism” and “white supremacy.”

What Happens Next

The lawsuit will proceed through federal court. Everett will have to defend policies that single out religious organizations for discriminatory treatment.

They’ll have to explain why LifeWise can’t participate in community fairs. Why flyers can’t be displayed. Why permission slips must be submitted weekly. Why Bibles must be sealed in envelopes.

And they’ll have to do it while their board member’s admission of “animus” hangs over the proceedings.

Prediction: settlement. There’s no winning this case for Everett after Adkins’s statement.

The Larger Pattern

This case reflects broader hostility toward Christianity in public education.

Schools that celebrate “diversity” exclude religious viewpoints. Districts that promote “inclusion” treat Christian students as problems to be managed. Board members who preach “tolerance” openly admit hatred toward religious organizations.

The First Amendment exists precisely to prevent this — government officials using their power to suppress religious exercise they personally find objectionable.

Charles Adkins finds LifeWise objectionable. He said so publicly. Now his district will pay for implementing his animus as policy.

“Animus” Has Consequences

In constitutional law, “animus” is a legal term. It refers to discriminatory intent — government action motivated by hostility toward a protected group.

Adkins used the word himself. “Yes, I do in fact hold animus.”

He might as well have written the lawsuit’s conclusion for them.

Religious liberty still means something in America. Even in Washington state. Even when school board members declare war on Christianity.

The sealed envelopes are coming open. And Everett Public Schools is going to learn what the First Amendment actually requires.