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Opelika, Alabama Officials Disregard Law and Ban Student-Led Prayer at Football Games

Thank you for joining us for the First Liberty Briefing, an exclusive podcast where host Jeremy Dys—also First Liberty Senior Counsel—provides an insider’s look at the stories, cases, people and laws that have made America the world’s leader in protecting religious liberty.

Opelika, Alabama officials prohibit a tradition of student-led prayer over the loudspeaker before football games. This ban directly violates a standing state law. Learn more at FirstLiberty.org/Briefing.

Prayer under the Friday night lights is once again in the crosshairs of activists. 

Opelika, Alabama Officials Disregard Law and Ban Student-Led PrayerIn Opelika, Alabama, school officials ended the practice of students praying over the loudspeaker prior to kickoff.  Sadly, the decision ignores the law the Alabama legislature passed in 1993. According to the law, the legislature meant “to properly accommodate the free exercise of religious rights of its student citizens in the public schools.”  But, not merely their rights within the school building, but also (and this is quoting from the law) “at public school events,” including football games.

In fact, the law explicitly says that,

“non-sectarian, non-proselytizing student-initiated prayer, invocations and/or benedictions, shall be permitted [at] school-related sporting events.” 

One court, upholding the law, explained:

“So long as the prayer is genuinely student-initiated, and not the product of any school policy which actively or surreptitiously encourages it, the speech is private and it is protected.”

And what about those who don’t like the prayers?  Well, the same court explained that they are simply “free not to listen, and to express their disagreement by not participating in any way.” 

In other words, genuinely student-initiated prayer is nothing to be feared and everything to be protected.  Alabama law makes it abundantly clear: students may pray over the loudspeaker at public school football games.  Driving religious expression by students off of public property is never the right option. 

To learn how First Liberty is protecting religious liberty for all Americans, visit FirstLiberty.org.

First Liberty Institute is the largest organization in the nation dedicated exclusively to protecting religious freedom for all Americans. Find out more here.

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