An Iowa school district barred a Christian group from running prayer events on its school grounds after the group held a National Day of Prayer celebration at Le Mars Community Middle and High Schools.
Le Mars Community School District, in Northwest Iowa, received a complaint from Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF). The atheist organization, known for its hostility toward religious speech in the public square, sent the complaint on behalf of an individual who discovered the prayer event through a Facebook post. The May 1 event’s Facebook page posted event pictures that featured a stack of prayer request cards for students to write on, as well as a table surrounded by both students and adults.
The post recalled the event, stating, “Students were welcomed with donuts, breakfast burritos, orange juice, and hot cocoa—and more importantly, with open hearts and listening ears. We took time to connect with students and asked them how we could be praying for them. It was a meaningful morning of ministry and encouragement. Join us as we continue to lift up the next generation in prayer. Grateful for the opportunity to serve and support our local youth!”
In response to the complaint, which argued that the event violated the First Amendment, the district agreed to ban religious organizations from using school grounds to hold events and announced it had taken “appropriate steps to ensure that any prayer activities occurring on school grounds are entirely student-led or student-initiated, in full compliance with applicable legal standards, including the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment,” as stated in their letter to FFRF.
First Liberty Institute, a law firm that has taken on similar cases in the defense of religious liberty on public property, would argue that the restriction violates First Amendment rights.
In its guide “Know Your Rights to Free Speech and Religious Expression,” First Liberty argues that the amendment protects the right to use school property, saying, “In general, the First Amendment’s protections apply to the government and government property, not private parties and private property. This means that (except for other federal, state, or local laws) private parties may limit what others say on their property and what activities occur on their property. However, the government may not do so to the same extent.”
