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First Amendment yarmulkes on display

By · April 14, 2008

Yarmulkes that figured in a constitutional challenge are on display at a Washington museum.

The religious headwear owned by Simcha Goldman, a U.S. Air Force clinical psychologist, are part of the First Amendment gallery in the Newseum, the museum of news that reopened this month in Washington, the Washington Jewish Week reported.

Goldman was threatened with a court martial for wearing his yarmulke indoors; he challenged the ruling on the basis of the free exercise of religion guaranteed in the First Amendment. In 1986, the Supreme Court ruled in favor of the Defense Department in a landmark ruling that granted the military greater latitude in limiting First Amendment freedoms.

In 1987, Congress passed legislation allowing some religious apparel to be worn by servicemen.

 

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