Illinois district removes religious Facebook post (October 2026)
Tags:Freedom From Religion Foundation, Politics, Religion
The Brussels CUSD 42 school district in Illinois removed an explicitly Christian Easter message from the district’s official Facebook page after FFRF intervened.
A concerned community member informed FFRF that the school district posted on Facebook an Easter message that states, “Happy Easter to our Brussels CUSD school community! This season of renewal reminds us of the hope, strength and promise found in new beginnings. As we reflect on the meaning of this time, we are grateful for the students, families, staff and community members who make our school such a supportive and caring place.”
The post included a praying hands emoji, as well as a photo which included imagery of Christian crosses and the tomb from which Christians believe Jesus emerged on Easter Sunday.
“The district should strive to remain welcoming and inclusive of all students and families in all aspects, including its official social media accounts, regardless of which religion students and families do or do not believe in,” FFRF Staff Attorney Madeline Ziegler wrote to the district.
After receiving FFRF’s letter, the district removed the post, according to Superintendent Pam Long in an email.
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FFRF ends Georgia school district’s prayer walks (October 2026)
Tags:Freedom From Religion Foundation, Politics, Religion
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.”
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Religious social media post taken down in Kan. (October 2026)
Tags:Freedom From Religion Foundation, Politics, Religion
Smoky Valley Public Schools in Kansas has complied with FFRF’s request to remove a religious reference from a post on the district’s official Facebook account.
A community member reported that on Aug. 4, the official Smokey Valley USD 400 Facebook account shared a post referencing biblical scripture. The post, which was celebrating a new funding increase, stated in part, “Scripture reminds us in Psalm 127:1, ‘Unless the Lord builds the house, the builders labor in vain.’ We recognize that this blessing is not ours alone, but a reflection of God’s grace working through a unified and faithful community. We are truly blessed beyond words.”
The person who contacted FFRF further explained that, “Although I’m happy [the district] will receive additional funding, I was shocked to see the religious sentiment from the official USD 400 Facebook page.”
FFRF wrote to the district, requesting that it remove or edit the post to ensure that it refrains from promoting religion on official social media in the future.
“While it is understandable that the district wished to celebrate increased funding via social media announcement, referencing religion in said announcement needlessly marginalizes students and families who are nonreligious, as well as those who belong to minority faiths,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to the district.
After receiving the letter, the district Superintendent Quentin Breese confirmed that proper action had been taken. “As requested, the post has been edited,” he wrote in an email.
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Ga. superintendent won’t sermonize at work events (October 2026)
Tags:Freedom From Religion Foundation, Politics, Religion
FFRF has made certain that future staff events in the Douglas County School System in Douglasville, Ga., will not be treated like church.
FFRF received reports from numerous school district employees regarding proselytizing that took place at the mandatory July 28 convocation. Reports, photographs and a video provided to FFRF show Superintendent Trent North sermonizing employees in his official capacity throughout the convocation. FFRF was told that during the multihour event, North made “numerous remarks about God” and said that he believes God sent him to “save Douglas County Schools.” He reportedly preached to staff, quoted bible verses, told employees that “[you] need to learn to trust the Lord,” and that “we don’t need church just on a Sunday, we need to teach our students to worship any day of the week.”
Gospel singers also performed religious songs throughout the convocation that were reportedly explicitly Christian. FFRF’s complainants stated that North would sermonize between gospel songs to emphasize the religious points being made.
One employee stated that as the convocation progressed, it “became increasingly more Christian and religious” and that North’s remarks over the course of the event reminded them of a pastor. They “tried to tune it out” but “became increasingly more uncomfortable.”
FFRF wrote to the district asking it to put a stop to the proselytizing and religious coercion of employees.
“In this case, [North], and thus DCSS, displayed clear favoritism toward religion over nonreligion, and Christianity over all other faiths, by preaching to employees in [North’s] official capacity during the convocation,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote to North.
FFRF is pleased to report that the district has changed course to be more inclusive.
“I discussed and explained with the superintendent the principle of separation of church and state specifically addressing the First Amendment as it relates to Free Exercise Clause and the perception of promoting or inhibiting a particular religion during staff meetings,” the district’s legal representative responded. “I am confident that the superintendent is now cognizant of this matter and has assured me this will not occur again.”
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Okla. school district to cancel prayer walk (October 2026)
Tags:Freedom From Religion Foundation, Politics, Religion
FFRF has convinced the Muskogee Public Schools system in Oklahoma to cancel a proposed “prayer walk” at a district middle school.
A district parent had informed FFRF that on Aug. 12, Muskogee 6th and 7th Grade Academy was planning to host a school-sponsored “prayer walk.” The academy distributed a flyer to parents promoting the event and inviting the community to gather at the school at 11 a.m. on that day for the prayer walk. An academy employee also sent parents an official message inviting them to “join us as we pray for our students, staff and families for what we know will be an amazing school year!”
FFRF insisted the district investigate the situation and ensure that the school refrain from organizing and promoting religious events going forward.
“Here, the academy is displaying blatant favoritism toward religion over nonreligion by organizing, promoting and encouraging student and family attendance at an on-campus prayer walk,” FFRF Staff Attorney Sammi Lawrence wrote.
Superintendent Jarod Mendenhall responded via email confirming that the district took corrective action.
“After reviewing the circumstances, the district has directed that the prayer walk be canceled immediately,” he wrote. “We have also directed that any social media posts promoting the event be removed and that the school communicate with parents regarding the cancellation.”
Mendenhall also verified that future school-sponsored activities would remain in compliance with the First Amendment and that the district would not organize or promote religious activities.
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