Atheists are targeting a Tennessee school district after students prayed before a football game last October.

Freedom From Religion Foundation

It all started in a few months ago when a student at Bradley Central High School in Cleveland, Tennessee prayed over the loudspeakers before a game. The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to the Bradley County School District’s attorney after someone complained. That person does not want to be identified because they work for the school district.

However, the person told WTVC Channel 9 through email that “Bradley County Schools continue to flagrantly disregard the law.” The FFRF and complainant stated that the prayer violated the constitution.

Here's the official complaint, including demands, from the Freedom From Religion Foundation about a prayer at a Bradley Central football game. Complainant says it was unconstitutional. pic.twitter.com/4F3jh9lttJ

— Alana LaFlore (@AlanaLaFlore) January 22, 2018

The complainant told WDEF News 12 that “If I were to disregard laws, I would face consequences. The school district should not be immune from the law. My ultimate goal in filing the complaints is very simple: I want the school district to follow the law. The supreme court decision banning prayer over the PA system at football games was decided 18 years ago.”

The person is only partly right. The FFRF cited the 2000 United States Supreme Court decision on Santa Fe Independent School District v. Doe. The court ruled that student-led prayer over loudspeakers is unconstitutional. However, an appeals court in another case held that “students do not shed their religious rights when they enter the schoolhouse doors.” They also ruled that student-led prayers were constitutional. Because the rulings seemed to conflict, the Supreme Court asked the appeals court to revisit its decision. The appeals court held that student speech was considered a form of private speech consistent with the free exercise clause and is constitutional in some situations. Read more about these cases here.

The Students’ Response

Students responded to the complaint by organizing a prayer service and walk. Organizer Cade Baker, a 2017 graduate of Bradley Central High School said the prayer service and walk wasn’t a protest. “We’re not angry,” he said. “We’re not protesting. We just wanted to come together as believers and support one another and love each other during this time.”

CJ Beck, a senior, also helped organize the event. “We pray pretty much before every game in every sport,” she said. She added that prayer before her softball games helped her. “It really helps me during the games and pumps me up to be able to keep pushing forwards.”

A large crowd gathered to PRAY over their community. @BradleyCentral students, past and present, say this is NOT a protest of the complaint. @wdefnews12 pic.twitter.com/dOs80nLAP0

— Amber Worthy #amwriting (@byAmberWorthy) January 21, 2018