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Cop Orders Kids to Stop Praying at Supreme Court

A group of Christian students was allegedly ordered to stop praying outside the U.S. Supreme Court building on May 5 because a court police officer told them it was against the law.

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The students were part of a junior high school American History class at Wickenburg Christian Academy in Arizona. After taking pictures on the steps of the Supreme Court building, their teacher gathered them to a side location where they formed a circle and began to pray.

According to Nate Kellum, senior counsel with the Alliance Defense Fund, a police officer “abruptly” interrupted the prayer and ordered the group to cease and desist.

“They were told to stop praying because they were violating the law and they had to take their prayer elsewhere,” Kellum told FOX News Radio.

The American History teacher, Maureen Rigo, said she was stunned.

“I was pretty shocked because we’ve prayed there before and it’s never been an issue,” she told FOX News Radio. “His (the police officer’s) comment was ‘I’m not going to tell you that you can’t pray. You just can’t pray here.’”

So the group of 15 students and seven adults left the Supreme Court and relocated to a sidewalk – where Rigo said the children stood in a gutter – and continued their prayer.

“It was just supposed to be a time that we could pray quietly for the Supreme Court, for the decisions they need to make and for our congressmen,” she said. “We kind of feel like our government can use all the prayers it can get.”

“It’s an outrage of the first magnitude,” said Rep. Trent Franks (R-AZ). The school is in his congressional district.

“When the day comes that people at the Supreme Court press children off into the gutter before they can pray, it portends a very frightening future for this country,” he told FOX News Radio.

“This police officer acted reprehensibly,” Franks said. “Those students had every right to pray there on the steps of the Supreme Court.”

The Alliance Defense Fund sent a letter to the Supreme Court urging them to stop their police officers from banning prayers.

A spokesperson for the Court said the Marshal of the Court will look into the events alleged by the ADF.

“The Court does not have a policy prohibiting prayer,” said public information officer Kathy Arberg in an email to FOX News Radio.

“The Court’s policy regarding the use of most public areas at the Court has been to permit activity related to the business of the Court, including traditional tourist activity and ingress and egress for visitors, but not to permit demonstrations and other types of activity that may tend to draw a crowd or onlookers,” she said. “In addition, under 40 U.S.C. section 6135, it is unlawful to parade, stand or move in processions or assemblages in the building and grounds, including the plaza and steps, but not including the perimeter sidewalks.”

But Kellum said the 15 students and seven adults did not constitute a parade.

“From what we gather, the police officer at the Supreme Court building determined that because they were bowing their heads, they were bringing notice to their Christianity which they considered a movement and thus violating this federal statute,” he said.

Congressman Franks said he worried about the message it sent to the young children.

“I hope somehow this injustice is brought right,” he said. “These kids shouldn’t grow up thinking that it’s all right to stand by and let that happen to them. Their courage may keep it from happening not only to other children, but may be some sort of example to the nation.”

Bob Ritter, staff attorney for the American Humanist Association and a member of the Supreme Court Bar, said he doesn’t believe the police officer’s action had anything to do with an attack on religion.

“The policy would be that a group of people would not be able to amass on the steps for security reasons,” he told FOX News Radio. “But this would not have anything to do with praying.”

Rigo said she decided to use the events of last May as a learning experience for her young students.

“We do a long study on the U.S. Constitution,” she said. “We talked about the rights that we have given to us in the First Amendment – the right to freedom of speech, the right to freedom of religion. We have the right to peaceful assembly. We have the right to due process of law. We feel like all of those things had been denied us there.”

And that’s why on the eve of the National Day of Prayer a group of boys and girls from Arizona was praying in a gutter in the shadow of the Supreme Court of the United States.

Todd Starnes is a FOX News Radio reporter and author.

46 Comments

  1. Silrette

    July 15, 2010 at 11:06 pm

    “We talked about the rights that we have given to us in the First Amendment .”

    Excellent, but I have one major issue. This quote is backwards and it is very, very important to get it right. Our rights are absolutely NOT given to us in the First Amendment, or the Second, or anywhere in the Constitution, or any other government document.

    Government doesn't give us our rights.

    The most basic idea of America is that those rights are already ours, from the moment of our creation. Governments ENSURE our rights, and that is why they exist. The First Amendment and the rest of the Bill of Rights don't give rights but limit the government. The Constitution doesn't tell us what we can do but tells the government what IT can and cannot do. E.g., the 19th Amendment does not say, "Women can now vote." It says that the Feds or the States can no longer deny women's right to vote. The way it is written indicates that women have always had the right to vote, but our government had just been denying that right up until we spelled in out in the Constitution.

    • Mary

      July 16, 2010 at 7:59 am

      This is the most brilliant response I've read on any forum ever.

  2. jay curran usa ret.

    July 16, 2010 at 12:08 am

    what next!

  3. Tuning

    July 15, 2010 at 8:10 pm

    It’s a sad state of affairs when prayer is not allowed in a place that was established and founded on prayer. I am a police officer and all I can say to that officer is “SHAME ON YOU.”

  4. Rob

    July 16, 2010 at 12:31 am

    NO – the constitution does NOT give us our rights. The constitution states our rights come from God and the constitution affirms that. The constitution is about what the government is limited to doing.
    as everything else in this country, the uneducated masses are believing the opposite of the truth

    • RevWubby

      July 16, 2010 at 3:12 pm

      Wait… What? Ok, I want you to go read the 3 words at the very beginning of the Constitution. Just 3… I won't make you read the whole thing… I'll wait…

      Now, please tell me again where the Constitution states that our right come from?

      Extra credit: find the word God or any references to a deity in the Constitution… (and if you point out the date, I swear will sit you in the corner with a dunce cap!)

      We won't wait for you, since we have things to do before we die.

  5. Barney Frank

    July 16, 2010 at 12:38 am

    The office was most likely Obama in disguise. He hates America and anyone who prays…except the Muslims. Hey Obama…F-U!!!

    • Vic

      July 16, 2010 at 12:39 pm

      you are a moron, Obama is a Christian, and did you mean officer?

  6. Ed

    July 16, 2010 at 12:53 am

    This incident is just one of many recent examples of how our United States Constitution is being "re-constituted" and our rights assailed… right before our very eyes. Why is it that the clear intent of our founding Fathers is constantly being torqued…the very words they used to express their thoughts – blatantly ignored or redfined – so that the result appears to be synchronized with some dark, shadowy and devious institutionalized agenda.

  7. matt

    July 16, 2010 at 1:16 am

    No democrats should be allowed to be police officers, judges, or have any contact with children. It is not unlawful to discriminate based on political affiliation. Democrats like this police officer need to be driven out of our place at work. Personally, I do not allow them to collect my garbage, mow my lawn, teach my children, or wait on me at restaurants. Only by taking the battle TO them, can we rid our generation of this threat – as our grandparents did for us, with the Japanese and Gemmans.

  8. art simpson

    July 16, 2010 at 1:17 am

    Time for the militias.

  9. art simpson

    July 16, 2010 at 1:18 am

    So who are the site admins? PC boys from the muslim white house?

  10. krissi

    July 16, 2010 at 2:02 am

    This is nothing new. There has been a group that prays there consistently called the Call. I even know a guy who knelt down inside the hall of the Supreme Court to pray and he had handcuffs slapped on him. He wasn't praying out loud. He was told to stand up and pray elsewhere or he'd be arrested. This happened in 2003 or 2004. It's not an Obama thing…I don't know when this began…I can understand why but, the steps should be allowed. The police guarding said what he could…"I'm not telling you that you CAN'T pray…". He was saying what he could…Our country needs so much prayer. :) Keep praying everyone, whether it be from your homes, or in D.C. Let's shake our nation with our prayers. :)

  11. joe

    July 16, 2010 at 2:19 am

    Lord forgive them for they no not what they do Sounds like He knew what He was talking about

    • jack bloess

      July 16, 2010 at 8:23 pm

      know is correct. no is bad grammer

  12. Al Sharpton

    July 15, 2010 at 10:25 pm

    Oh I bet you all feel really violated that your “rights” were trampled on. First of all, there are hundreds of examples of people all around the nation who’s rights are destroyed to a far worse degree. People who are FULLY within their rights (as these demonstrators clearly weren’t). People have cameras destroyed for filming cops on duty, they get yelled at and even have guns pulled out on them. This group of people, while being peaceful, were still by the eyes of the police violating public policy. Before you all cry injustice, perhaps you should be shouting more at the people who were truly served an injustice. Every person thus far who has posted have just been bigots incapable of rational thought, so I doubt this message will truly reach anyone. I just can’t let this sorry excuse for journalism go unheeded.

    • Love it or Leave it

      July 16, 2010 at 3:52 am

      hey H..al…S you were saying… Blah blah blah blah your a bigot blah blah blah your irrational thought will reach someone oh yeah you hearing the hot air coming out of your mouth as usual.. I could not let your sorry excuse for a human go unheeded go to bed and say a pray for all the great people who love this country do some good for once nitey nite

    • Jeri

      July 16, 2010 at 7:42 am

      Get a LIFE! From the Revelotionary War ,to the CiviL War till now,my family has served to keep people like you free so you can have the right to bitch and whine your racist song.Do you even know the root meaning?My grandmother was some Indian. she was dirt poor,but I dont go around CRYING how my land was taken away.Or how about the little black kitty cat dude saying he hates crackers?What gave him the right to spu his hatred?Now that man needs deliverance.If people like you were as willing to fight and die for your freedom as you are to whine and gripe about;racist,bigot unfair oppression etc. wed win the war?GROW UP.If you were hungry, Id give you food if I had it no mater what you color.Would you do the same?

  13. justaguy61

    July 16, 2010 at 2:50 am

    yikes, were Muslims and Budists and every other non Christian religion also kicked off the steps when they prayed or did they get a pass?

  14. marvin crabb

    July 16, 2010 at 2:52 am

    wake up america and ban togather to get rid of all the democrats and get a person who is of moral words .let us get rid odf all hte people who are takeing our country down in the toilet.may god truly bless america

    • Give Me Libtery

      July 17, 2010 at 1:20 am

      It's not about Democrats or Republicans, It's about the whole group who removes our liberties one by one with every law they pass. Change will never happen if people don't stop looking at parties and start looking at the individuals they are voting for on election day.

  15. Ronda Carty

    July 16, 2010 at 2:52 am

    TO: Mr. Trent Franks,

    Thank you for speaking and upholding the rights of the students. After reading this story many like myself are shocked with the actions of this officer.

    Thank you for speaking up with respect to the students. It shows not only respect for them but for what we were granted from the founding of this nation.

    Thank You!

  16. Barbara Jackson

    July 16, 2010 at 4:43 am

    What harm were these children doing?????Where were their weapons????where were their shouting angry insults????I I did not read any of this in this report….That policeman should be admonished and a public apoligy should be given to these children from the White House…..but what can you expect from a so called president who cancels the National Day of Prayer for all America…..How said for our country

  17. Pete Andrews

    July 16, 2010 at 9:32 am

    Obama did put a stop to the National Day of Prayer, so maybe "The White House" issued a RULE against prayer in D.C. – you know… just like "The White House on Wednesday issued new rules requiring health insurance companies to provide free coverage for dozens of screenings, laboratory tests and other types of preventive care," with… See More the snap of the fingers, Obama required insurance companies to provide free coverage for a bunch of different kinds of screenings and laboratory tests and other types of preventive care.

    Obama is now the supreme ruler of the USSA. His will be done.

    • RevWubby

      July 16, 2010 at 3:19 pm

      Put a stop to it? When did he do that? He didn't pass an executive order… he didn't submit legislation, he didn't even tell his staff not to pray. In FACT, he proclaimed it. Here is a link to the text of his speech on the May 6th. Fox News even had clips of it…
      http://freedomeden.blogspot.com/2010/05/national-…

      Facts… they are just SO hard, huh?

  18. Pete Andrews

    July 16, 2010 at 9:41 am

    Rigo said she decided to use the events of last May as a learning experience for her young students.

    “We do a long study on the U.S. Constitution,” she said. “We talked about the rights that we have given to us in the First Amendment – the right to freedom of speech, the right to freedom of religion. We have the right to peaceful assembly. We have the right to due process of law. We feel like all of those things had been denied us there.”

    There's a BIG part of the problem. The teacher doesn't know what s/he is talking about. The First Amendment does NOT give us ANY rights. It limits the Government from restricting our GOD given rights!

  19. Use_of_Reason

    July 16, 2010 at 7:20 am

    People could just stop with their ridiculous displays of religion that are deliberate attempts to incite. If I saw someone praying on the steps of the Supreme court, why not just stand there and use my right to free speech to conjure the devil right there and then… what are you gonna do about it?? What a bunch of stupid superstitious idiots.

    Not everyone is a mindless christian. Our founding fathers were deists, and really only "acknowledged" that they had faith or religion to appease the crazies, not unlike politicians are forced to do today.
    They didn't act like crazed morons, afraid of everything they don't understand and they understood that religions are very diverse. Maybe they traveled beyond their po-dunk county, there Jim-bob.
    The dummies need to move to Texas and secede and call themselves dum-phuk-istan. Build your wall all around the state 50 feet high and stay there…pray all you want as loud as you want right out in the street like the loonies you are! If someone doesn't agree, then you can just shoot them. And everyone will be white and christian. BYE!!!

  20. Use_of_Reason

    July 16, 2010 at 11:22 am

    Wow, I'm feeling good that my comment was deleted by the administrator before it was even posted publicly. Censorship at its finest here!!! BUT I HAVE THE RIGHT TO PRAY, and my post was A PRAYER? What's happening? Has FOX GONE SECULAR!??

  21. Use_of_Reason

    July 16, 2010 at 11:22 am

    LOVING Fox moderation of the comments here… nice censorship :) Good job with the propaganda creeps.

  22. Use_of_Reason

    July 16, 2010 at 11:23 am

    Your comment must be approved by the site admins before it will appear publicly.

  23. Use_of_Reason

    July 16, 2010 at 11:24 am

    My comment was deleted. :( What about that right to free speech? Hmm?

  24. RevWubby

    July 16, 2010 at 3:24 pm

    I consider myself a liberal moderate and an atheist (New Atheist in fact). My take, the cop was just plain wrong. He should have known that praying on the steps of a public building is 100% legal, just like being able to tell people that the Bible is false would be legal. If I was being generous, I could assume he was, like screeners in the airports, just a little too security happy, but I think he was simple misinformed and likely undereducated about our country, like so many people.

  25. Fairness_Now

    July 16, 2010 at 3:27 pm

    So when the Wiccan covens come and start doing their form of prayer on the supreme court steps, ya'll are fine with that too? Or if the Muslims bring their little rugs and praise Allah on the steps that is socially comfortable as well.

    I am strongly Cristian, but I respect that we need spaces where freedom matters – not just freedom for MY people. God will hear the children from their homes as easily as from the doorstep of a court building.

  26. Hypocrisy

    July 16, 2010 at 4:07 pm

    http://bible.cc/matthew/6-6.htm

  27. Gary

    July 16, 2010 at 4:14 pm

    You all are acting like Obama himself came out onto the steps and proclaimed to all the land that there is NO public prayer allowed. And that is not what happened here. ONE cop made a judgment call and he was wrong. Everyone is allowed to make mistakes. Everyone. The kids are not traumatized for life unless the adults make an issue of it (so yeah, I guess they will be).

    This article is blowing the entire incident out of proportion to what REALLY happened.

    Relax, people. Chill. It's not the end of the world.

  28. superpeople

    July 16, 2010 at 4:22 pm

    They were probably blocking a fire exit. :-)

  29. Patti

    July 16, 2010 at 2:25 pm

    I agree. We need more like Silrette in our government.

  30. tiliyeah

    July 16, 2010 at 10:13 pm

    all christians and none christians should read the book by JAY SEKULOW..''THE CHRISTIAN THE COURT AND THE CONSTITUTION..YOUR RIGHTS AS A CHRISTIAN''…BE INFORMED THIS POLICE MAN WAS OUT OF ORDER..and egnorant of the law.

  31. norm watson

    July 16, 2010 at 10:44 pm

    Don't you see, our country has lost it's freedoms, what used to make America great has been sold to make some Americans rich. We have been divided & are being conquered from within.This country was an experiment in self government. Corruption ,over taxation , undeclared wars, foreign influence that controls our foreign policy is now the norm. America has been sold out by liars, traitors and arrogant politicians who think they are better than the average American citizen. Over spending has enslaved further generations.This will stop and we will get our country back.

  32. Stacy

    July 16, 2010 at 10:52 pm

    I am so excited to see the media pick up on this. Our country was founded on freedom……Americans all across the nation should realize that there is a battle against that freedom and STAND UP and protect what has been given to us – by God and by men and women who fought to protect our rights. Now is not a time to be complacent. but to be visionary and protect what is ours.

  33. Kathy Huff

    July 17, 2010 at 5:56 pm

    The most succinct response I can post is this (should I not be censored):
    2Timothy 2:8-10: Remember Jesus Christ, raised from the dead, descended from David. This is my gospel, for which I am suffering even to the pooint of being chained like a criminal. But God's word is not chained.

  34. Brenda

    July 18, 2010 at 10:37 pm

    Will be in DC before 8/28……I think I will get a few of us to pray in front of the Supreme Court……let's see them stop us!!!! What a lawsuit I envision and the Supreme Court will uphold our right to free speech and prayer!!!!!

  35. Charlotte Windham

    July 19, 2010 at 2:34 pm

    It is wrong that these students were stopped praying. The officer was wrong,and we have The First Amendment. This Nation was formed with freedom of religion. I am apalled that the muslims want to build a worship place at where The World Trade Centers once stood. Stop the building of the mosque. We want the muslims to leave America. Most of them represent evil. This is perscutions of Christians to stop prayer.

  36. ChicagoTim

    December 3, 2010 at 3:01 pm

    Religion needs to be kept in the church and the home. I should not have to have it on the steps of the Court. When are we going seperate church and state as it shold be. Besides, history has taught us that Religion has killed more people than all the wars combined. Your bible says those without sin cast the first stone, but religous people tend to be the best stone throwers out there..

  37. Isabel

    December 14, 2010 at 5:45 pm

    If some people are offended how the Christians celebrate "Christmas" they should be banned from getting off from work, not be able to celebrate the day, not partake of any activities, etc. What are they celebrating anyway? The end of the year? Then let them only celebrate on New Years. Christmas is a christian holiday. It is the birth of Jesus, whether you like it or not.

  38. jessetta

    February 21, 2011 at 4:26 pm

    god words of the holy bible is coming to past just look at whats going on in the nations and the our leaders in the united states people read the word of our lord jesus christ it talks about what is happening and what is going to happen im sorry but thing in the world are about to get much worse god judgements are soon to come to this earth nations wake up out of your sleep jesus is near please put down your false idols jesus christ is the only way and the only messiah.