More protests planned over hymn ban at Mississippi school

Remember, the band was going to play the music, but not sing the words of the hymn. And, I wish the judge would allow you to say what every American president during my lifetime has said without fear of a politically correct albeit constitutionally-challenged judge and his silly adjudicated agreement: “God bless the United States of America!” She filed the suit in response to the number of Christian assemblies and prayers being held on the high school campus. “God Bless the USA” too?”

However, court documents give a revealing look into what led to the Brandon band controversy, showing the school district’s been under a federal judge’s crosshairs since a 2013 lawsuit.

School Board President Ann Sturdivant told the Clarion Ledger newspaper in Jackson, Mississippi, that because of the court order, the board “had no choice” but to bar performance of the hymn.

“If we were to perform this show, taking a chance of how it would be perceived by others, and the court deems it is in violation of previous rulings, not only would the Rankin County School District face harsh fines, but also RCSD would be forced to terminate the employment of anyone associated with the decision to perform the show”. “I have a child who’s a senior in high school”.

But when fans, including adults and students, learned that the performance of the Christian hymn had been canceled, they chose to perform it themselves.

Brittany Mann told Starnes she witnessed the moment of defiance.

Misty Winningham says, “I want us to stand up and stand together and try to get God back in school”.

He said the “time has come to put an end to their cultural jihad”.

The band had been rehearsing “How Great Thou Art” all summer and was prepared to play it last Friday during halftime at the first football game of the school year.

The district has been ordered to stop sponsoring religion at graduations, assemblies, athletic competitions and other school events.