MUSKOGEE, Okla. (KOKH) — A non-profit that advocates for the separation of church and state said it has convinced an Oklahoma school district to cancel a proposed “prayer walk”.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation said a concerned parent had informed them that Muskogee’s 6th and 7th Grade Academy was planning to host a school-sponsored prayer walk on August 12.
There was even a flyer distributed promoting the walk to students and community members.
Allegedly and Academy employee also sent parents an official message inviting them to “join us as we pray for our students, staff and families for what we know will be an amazing school year!”
FFRF wrote the district and asked them to refrain from organizing and promoting religious events moving forward.
“Here, the academy is displaying blatant favoritism toward religion over nonreligion by organizing, promoting and encouraging student and family attendance at an on-campus prayer walk,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote.
According to the FFRF, Muskogee Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall responded by email confirming that the district took corrective action.
“After reviewing the circumstances, the district has directed that the prayer walk be canceled immediately,” he wrote. “We have also directed that any social media posts promoting the event be removed and that the school communicate with parents regarding the cancellation.”
The FFRF also said Mendenhall would verify that future school-sponsored events would remain in compliance with the First Amendment.
“It is encouraging to see a school district respond quickly when constitutional concerns are brought to its attention,” FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor says. “The district made the right choice in canceling this school-sponsored prayer event. Students deserve to start the year off on the right foot.”
Attorney General Gentner Drummond responded Friday afternoon regarding the cancellation of the “prayer walk”.
“Attendance was voluntary in the fullest sense of that word,” said Drummond. “Any parent or student who preferred not to come simply did not come, at no cost whatever. On those facts there is no coercion. There is no captive audience. There is no Establishment Clause violation. The district was free to proceed,” he added, “and I would have said so had the district asked.”
