About 1940, there was religious freedom case in Minersville, Pennsylvania. At a school there, all children were required to salute the flag. Two children of the Gobitiz family refused as they were Jehovah's Witnesses. The children were expelled for insubordination. Their parents sued that their Freedom of Religion protection had been violated.

The case made it to the U.S. Supreme Court but the justices voted 8-1 supporting the school's right to make fair rules concerning patriotism.

Afterwards, there was an epidemic of violence against any member of Jehovah's Witnesses. Their Kingdom Halls were burned and individual members were beaten, tarred and feathered and several were castrated.

I that message is "it doesn't pay to be a minority in America" or " to hold views that are contrary to those around you."

As a footnote, The Minersville v. Gobitiz decision was overturned in 1943 by a case called West Virginia Board of Education v. Barnette.

http://www.theage.com.au/news/opinion/s ... 33312.html