Atheists Threaten Lawsuit Over Christian Principal's Graduation Prayers, Finding Jesus Sign on District Property
An atheist organization is threatening to sue a Georgia school district amid accusations that a primary school principal violated the U.S. Constitution by leading Christian prayers during graduation ceremonies.
The Appignani Humanist Legal Center, the legal arm of the American Humanist Association, sent a letter Tuesday to officials with the Rabun County School District stating the secular group is planning to litigate the issue in federal court.
Written by AHA attorney Monica Miller, the letter was in regards to the prayers given by Lisa Patterson, principal of Rabun County Primary School, as a sign with the name "Jesus" on it found on Rabun County Board of Education property.
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"The graduation prayers and the Jesus sign are clear violations of the Establishment Clause of this First Amendment," wrote Miller.
"If corrective steps are not taken immediately, our organization will pursue the matter through litigation in federal court."
Miller requested that the officials respond with written assurances that changes have been made within seven days of the complaint being sent.
AHA Executive Director Roy Speckhardt said in a recently released statement that the sectarian prayers had no place in a public school.
"Students attend school to learn, not to be berated with prayers and religious messages," stated Speckhardt. "Public schools must respect the rights of all students to an education without religious intimidation."
In May of this year, Patterson gave a Christian prayer at two different elementary school graduation ceremonies, one for second grade and another for kindergarten.
A parent of one of the children in attendance took issue with the prayer and contacted the AHA for legal assistance after complaining unsuccessfully to the Rabun Board of Education.
Since the complaint garnered attention, Fox 5 Atlanta interviewed locals and found that some were supportive of Patterson.
"She is a Christian lady and you can tell it by her movements, by everything, and I just think she is awesome," said one woman who attended one of the May graduations where Patterson prayed.
Rabun County School District did not return comment to The Christian Post by press time.
