FFRF has successfully halted a Georgia public school district’s promotion of Christian “prayer walks.”
A local student informed FFRF that Laurens County Schools had organized and promoted a “prayer walk” every year before the start of school. Per a promotional post from the district’s official Facebook account, the 2026 devotional gatherings occurred on Aug. 5 and 6 at each of the district’s schools. The flyer for the events invited students and families to “join us for a time of WORSHIP and PRAYER as we walk the halls of our campus and each school to pray over the staff and students who will enter these buildings.”
The student who contacted FFRF explained the alienating effect of the district’s religious promotion: “I go to this school district because it is public, free, and doesn’t/shouldn’t officially endorse any religion. I constantly feel uncomfortable because I follow a spiritual path different from everybody else. … I just wish I could get my education without having religion shoved down my throat.”
“The district displayed blatant favoritism toward religion over nonreligion and Christianity over all other faiths by using official social media to invite the entire school community to participate in school-sponsored Christian prayer walks through each of the District’s schools,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to Superintendent Otha Hall.
Thankfully, the district’s legal representative confirmed that the district has taken corrective action.
“The social media post referenced in your letter has been removed,” Aparesh Paul recently responded. “Additionally, district administration has reviewed with school administrators issues and obligations arising from the Establishment Clause, including an appearance of endorsing or promoting religion or religious activity.”
