And, she added, requiring public school students to participate in any kind of prayer violates the First Amendment guarantee of religious freedom. Supporters say they believe the slogan could withstand a court challenge because it was adopted as the national motto in 1956 and appears on United States money. Musgrove said he had decided to sign the bill before learning of the lawsuit threat. In the past few years, school prayer disputes in Jackson and Pontotoc gained national attention. The U.S. Supreme Court, in a Texas case last June, banned prayers over loudspeaker systems before public school football games.
Several lawmakers display the framed posters in their offices.
Hicks said the best way to protect religious freedom is by keeping religion and government separate.