Arkansas school cancels entire graduation after being asked not to pray

A school district in Arkansas has decided to completely cancel 6th grade graduation ceremonies after some parents asked that Christian prayers not be included.

According to KAIT, Riverside School district made the decision after being contacted by a parent and receiving a letter from the American Civil Liberties Union.

"As Christians and a mainly Christian town I think, there were a lot of people hurt that our rights were taken away," Sixth grade parent Kelly Adams told the station. "My daughter graduated last year from 6th grade and my son is graduating this year from 6th grade, and we had a pastor open our ceremony and my daughter actually closed the ceremony in prayer."

"We just went to take a stand for God because we felt like out rights were taken away," she added. "I realize they have rights too but you can't take rights away from one group and give it to another."

Adams said that a group of Christian parents were meeting to decide which church would host a substitute graduation, and that everyone would be invited.

"We are including everyone, everyone is invited, we want everyone to come and be a part of it," she insisted. "We're not trying to be pushy or ugly to anybody, we just want them to know there is a God who loves them."

Watch this video from KAIT, broadcast May 9, 2013.

KAIT-Jonesboro, AR-News, weather, sports

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