A group that works to remove faith from the public square claims prayers at a Louisiana school’s graduation ceremonies violate the constitution.
Americans United for the Separation of Church and State is calling on the Bossier Parish school system to eliminate prayers at graduation ceremonies, saying they violate the Constitution’s First Amendment prohibition against an establishment of religion.
The group became involved after receiving a complaint about student-led prayers at the beginning and end of the Benton High School graduation ceremony back on May 20.
School system spokeswoman Sonja Bailes said every Bossier Parish high school graduation includes student-led prayers.
Americans United contends that even student-led prayers violate the First Amendment prohibition and in a letter to school officials demanded that future graduation ceremonies do not contain prayers or religious sermons.
The organization sent a second letter because it didn’t receive a response from the school board. The second letter warned that if they did receive a response in the next 14 days they would consider further action.
In 2015, the American Civil Liberties Union wrote to the Bossier Parish School Board about prayer boxes at Airline High School. School Board members took no action in that complaint, instead passing a resolution saying the school system “is committed to honoring the state and federal law as it relates to the rights of all students, regardless of their religious beliefs.”