• Action Headquarters
  • Media Center
    • Press Releases
    • Press Kit
    • All News

American Humanist Association

Advocating progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, and freethinkers

  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • About
    • About

      For over 80 years, the AHA has proudly served as the leading progressive voice in America on behalf of humanists, atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers.

      Learn More
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financial Info and Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Are You Humanist?
    • Are You Humanist?

      Guided by reason, inspired by compassion, and informed by experience.

      Learn More
    • Definition of Humanism
    • Humanism and Its Aspirations
    • Humanist of the Year Award
    • Famous Humanists in History
  • Key Issues
    • Key Issues

      We are committed to building an inclusive America grounded in an embrace of reason, ethics, scientific inquiry, and compassion- rather than religious dogma.

      Learn More
    • Defending Nontheists and Promoting Humanism
    • Religion and Government Separation
    • Social Justice
    • Scientific Integrity
    • Promoting Peace
    • Resolutions and Statements
  • What We Do
    • What We Do

      We work tirelessly in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend civil liberties, secular governance, and scientific integrity.

      Learn More
    • Legal
    • Legislative
    • Education Center
    • Local Groups
    • Programs and Adjuncts
    • Publications
    • AHA at the Supreme Court
    • National Day of Reason
    • Boycott the Pledge Campaign
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Humanism for All Prisoners’ Project
  • Get Involved
    • Get Involved

      Ready for change? Join our network and be the first to take action. Get the resources and tools you need to make a real difference.

      Learn More
    • Humanist Action Headquarters
    • Find a Local AHA Group
    • Become a Humanist Celebrant
    • Events and Conferences
    • Grants and Programs
    • Resources
  • Ways to Give
    • Ways to Give

      Through winning lawsuits, active lobbying, and effective media campaigns, your contribution can go a long way.

      Learn More
    • Join
    • Renew
    • Donate
    • Online-Only Membership
    • Leave a Bequest
    • IRA Rollover Gifts
    • Other Ways to Give
  • Media Center
  • Take Action
September 6, 2018 Press Releases

Atheists Argue for Prayer-Free Graduations in South Carolina

Facebook Twitter Email Share
September 6, 2018 Press Releases

Atheists Argue for Prayer-Free Graduations in South Carolina

For Immediate Release

Contact:

Sarah Henry, (202) 238-9088, shenry@americanhumanist.org

Monica Miller, (202) 238-9088, mmiller@americanhumanist.org

(Washington, D.C., September 6, 2018) – The American Humanist Association (AHA) has just filed its supplemental response in its lawsuit to permanently stop the Greenville County School District from subjecting captive student audiences to prayers and proselytizing remarks at public school graduations.

“The school district failed to provide any applicable legal support for its longstanding and clearly unconstitutional practice of including prayers, Christian hymns, and Bible readings in public school graduation ceremonies,” says Monica Miller, AHA Senior Counsel and lead attorney on this case.

Today’s response to the school district’s memorandum—filed in the U.S. District Court of South Carolina—cites settled Supreme Court precedent holding that student-initiated prayers and Bible readings delivered to captive student audiences at school-sponsored events violate the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment. The American Humanist Association also cites federal court precedent holding that the inclusion of Christian songs and proselytizing remarks at graduation ceremonies are equally unconstitutional.

“The school district also fails to grasp that a single graduation prayer would violate the Constitution according to Supreme Court precedent. In 2017 alone, we counted at least 12 overtly religious graduation remarks, including Christian prayers and proselytizing sermons,” Miller remarked.

The AHA’s lawsuit commenced in 2013, challenging the district’s two separate graduation practices of holding elementary school ceremonies in a Christian chapel, and including prayers in ceremonies district-wide.  After a successful appeal to the Fourth Circuit Court of Appeals regarding preliminary motions, the Fourth Circuit reassigned the case to a new judge upon finding the original judge biased against the American Humanist Association. In 2015, the District Court held that graduation prayers delivered prior to 2013 violated the Establishment Clause. The court enjoined the district from officially encouraging prayers and from using religious language (i.e., “invocation” and “benediction”) on written programs. The District Court, however, refused to enjoin student-initiated prayers and ignored the AHA’s second claim regarding the Christian chapel practice.

The American Humanist Association filed a successful second appeal to the Fourth Circuit, which overturned the 2015 ruling. The Fourth Circuit directed the District Court to: (1) determine the chapel issue; (2) determine whether the AHA continued to have standing to permanently stop future graduation prayers; and (3) if so, to reconsider the prayer issue.

In 2017, the District Court agreed with the AHA that using a Christian chapel for graduation ceremonies violates the Establishment Clause. The court postponed ruling on the prayer issue pending further briefing. Today’s memorandum is the final filing before the court delivers its ruling.

Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association, affirmed, “Bringing faith and religious service into a celebration of students’ accomplishments is not only unconstitutional, it takes away from what should be a celebrated momentous occasion. We are optimistic the District Court will recognize this and protect students and their families from unwanted religious intrusion.”

Read the just-filed response here.

Read the AHA’s opening supplemental memorandum (August 2018) here.

Read the AHA’s 2016 memorandum here.

Read the AHA’s Fourth Circuit opening and reply briefs here and here, respectively.

###

The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

 

Special thanks to the Louis J. Appignani Foundation for their support of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.

More Press Releases

Latest news from TheHumanist.com

Subscribe Today

Stargazing Skeptics, S’mores, & Dangerously Curious Kids

Jake Via

Embracing Uncertainty: The Humanist Approach to Knowledge in an Age of Information Overload

Leslie Williams

Humanists Making a Difference: Humanistic Rabbi & Celebrant Adam Chalom

TheHumanist.com Staff

Human Welfare, Scientific Skepticism, and Equality: An Interview with Andrew Copson

Scott Douglas Jacobsen

The Comics Section: Undiscriminating Hunger

The Comics Section: Undiscriminating Hunger
American Humanist Association
1821 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-238-9088
800-837-3792 (toll-free)
202-238-9003 (fax)
  • Facebook
  • X
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • About the American Humanist Association
  • Are You Humanist?
  • What We Do
  • Key Issues
  • Board of Directors
  • Staff
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Get Involved
  • Press Kit
  • Local Groups
  • Education Center
  • Become a Humanist Celebrant
  • Job and Internship Opportunities
  • Humanist Action Headquarters
  • Sign Up for AHA Emails
  • Privacy Policy
  • Records Policy
  • Site Map
  • Contact Us

©2025 American Humanist Association. All Rights Reserved.

Combined Federal CampaignIndependent Charities of AmericaCharity NavigatorCandid/Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency