Oklahoma Educators Target 'Atheists' in New Lawsuit Over Religious Freedom

Oklahoma Superintendent Ryan Walters and the state's Department of Education have sued the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), claiming that the organization is conducting a "blatant attack on the religious freedoms and Christians of Oklahoma students."

"We won't stand idly by while atheists try to erase faith," Walters said in a statement.

When reached for comment, a spokesperson for Walters referred Newsweek to comments he made earlier this week in a press release and social media posts.

Why It Matters

Walters has drawn national attention and some scrutiny for his open endorsements of pro-religious policies across Oklahoma's public schools, in addition to bringing his support for President Donald Trump into statewide classrooms.

In November, less than two weeks after Trump's election victory, Walters announced that Oklahoma would be the first state in the nation to purchase more than 500 Bibles to be put into classrooms. Those Bibles mimicked the "God Bless the USA Bibles," endorsed by Trump earlier in 2024, which include the U.S. Constitution, Bill of Rights, Declaration of Independence and Pledge of Allegiance.

Around the same time period, Walters touted the formation of Oklahoma's new Department of Religious Freedom and Patriotism within the state Department of Education (OSDE). Not only were public school superintendents sent videos requiring them to show students his video announcement—which included Walters praying for Trump—but also told school districts to also send the video to students' parents.

Oklahoma Attorney General Gentner Drummond later said that Walters couldn't force schools to show the video to students.

What To Know

The lawsuit filed by Walters and OSED against FFRF on March 31 is described by officials as a legal response to FFRF's issuance of a cease-and-desist letter to an Oklahoma school district (Achilles Public Schools, or APS) for allowing a student to pray over the intercom.

"Oklahoma will never be bullied by radical, out-of-state atheists who use intimidation and harassment against kids," Walters said in a statement. "The Freedom From Religion Foundation has no stake in our schools, no authority over our communities, and absolutely no right to trample on the First Amendment.

"Their threats are nothing more than a desperate attempt to erase faith from public life, and we will fight them at every turn."

The 24-page lawsuit, shared with Newsweek, states that Oklahoma statute clearly and unambiguously states that prayer is for any students "who wish to do so" and are not forced upon students—adding that under the state's "Parents' Bill of Rights," multiple "opt-out" provisions are contained within regarding curriculum, instruction and participation.

On or about December 17, 2024, APS Superintendent Rick Beene reportedly received a letter from FFRF regarding "unconstitutional school-sponsored prayer and bible readings."

FFRF allegedly claimed that "a concerned parent report[ed] that the district implemented a policy allowing teachers to read Bible verses at the beginning of their classes" and that "the district has a custom and practice of beginning each school day with a 'mandatory student-led prayer' over the schools' intercom systems."

"The district must cease permitting instructors to teach students Bible verses, and it must end its schools' practice of beginning each day with school-sponsored student-led prayers," the FFRF also purportedly wrote.

"Despite having no standing whatsoever to do so, FFRF continuously threatens Oklahoma Public Schools with demand letters under the guise speaking on behalf of anonymous 'concerned parents' who have contacted them," the lawsuit reads.

FFRF Legal Director Patrick Elliott told Newsweek the lawsuit is "frivolous."

"It's not an attempt to improve education in Oklahoma," Elliott said. "It seems to be political and to try to stifle the speech of the foundation in terms of our prior letters to school districts. We stand behind those. I think those raise serious constitutional problems with how some schools were operating."

FFRF stands behind the idea that public schools cannot broadcast prayer at the start of a school day, he added, and they can't have teachers or students reading mandatory Bible readings every day.

Elliott described them as "violations of the First Amendment."

Asked about Walters' past comments and actions regarding religion in schools, such as placing Bibles inside classrooms, Elliott said the actions are all related.

"It's related in the sense that he wants to take over local control of schools, which are governed by local school boards," he said. "He doesn't have authority to tell them what to do in terms of their particular curricular materials or whether or not they engage in prayer or Bible readings.

"He's really just trying to overreach and tells local schools what to do. So in terms of the state law and regulations, we just don't think he has any role like this at all to tell schools what to do on this."

About 698,923 students were enrolled in an Oklahoma school as of October of the 2023-2024 school year, according to the Oklahoma State Report Card.

The Pew Research Center said that Oklahoma is "tied for the 8th most religious state overall" with "66% of adults" identifying as "highly religious" and "71% say[ing] they believe in God with absolute certainty."

What People Are Saying

FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor: "Ryan Walters is a loose cannon bent on destroying secular public education in Oklahoma. We are proud of FFRF's record of support for true religious freedom and the rights of conscience of a captive audience of schoolchildren to be free from government-sponsored indoctrination in our public schools."

What Happens Next

Elliott said that FFRF's next move will be to dismiss the lawsuit.

Walters and OSED said that "the state remains resolute in its position and will vigorously oppose any efforts to undermine religious expression in its schools."