Middleton High School orders mothers to stop 'Jesus Lunch'

Middleton High School officials have ordered the "Jesus Lunch" meetings to cease, but the mothers who organize the weekly activity have remained defiant and would not be stopped.

Last week, school officials put cones near the area where the gatherings took place and ordered the mothers to leave. As advised by their lawyer Phil Stamman, the mothers ignored the officials, walked past them, and prepared the food for lunch as usual.

"These ongoing attempts to suppress free speech by school officials are disgraceful," Stamman said, according to Fox News.

The "Jesus Lunches" began in 2014 when a group of mothers offered free home-cooked meals to the students and shared encouraging messages from the Bible. Over time, the number of students going to these lunches ballooned to about 500 and eventually caught the attention of the school administrators, who want these gatherings to stop.

School officials sent emails to the parents involved, saying that "religious or political events do not have a place in our school or on our campus, except when sponsored by a student group in accordance with our rules, which require prior approval."

They insist that Fireman's Park, where the lunches are held, is under the school's jurisdiction because it is officially leased to the school. However, Stamman argues that the lease should not stop people from using the park.

"The public park can be leased to another public entity, but it's a non-exclusive lease. It's not fenced off and it's still open to the public," Stamman told EAG News. "Because of that, the laws associated with the First Amendment still apply."

On Tuesday, a protest is expected to happen during the "Jesus Lunch" gathering. Middleton police say they will have officers standing by in case things get out of control.