Hundreds Gather On Georgia Football Field For Prayer Rally After Atheist Threat
Hundreds of residents in Gainesville, Georgia gathered on the high school's local football field Wednesday for a prayer rally after the school was threatened with a lawsuit from the American Humanist Association.
Over 200 supporters of Chestatee High School gathered on the school's football field to pray and express their right to religious freedom. The American Humanist Association recently sent a demand letter to the Hall County School District, arguing that Chestatee High School football team had violated the constitution by allowing multiple religious references to be incorporated into the football team's events. Some of the offenses included coach-led prayers, Bible-verse banners at the football games, and scriptural references in team documents.
"We have received reports that CHS coaches have joined players in prayer while standing in a circle, hands interlocked," the AHA letter to the school district read, in part. The atheist organization is demanding the school stop the religious practices at its football games or face a lawsuit.
Hall County Schools Superintendent Will Schofield recently told a local media outlet: "Certainly adults shouldn't be leading children in prayers to any particular religion, but one thing we will stand behind is our students' right to prayer."
Parents of Chestatee High School students have also supported the football team's expression of religious freedom. "We've been in the program for years. My son played football. It's never been forced upon him. It is completely open invitation. If you want to pray, pray. If you don't you don't have to," parent Beth Swenson told WSB-TV.
