More than 100 parents and students took part in a "prayer rally" Friday morning outside a Collin County high school embroiled in controversy over religious freedom.
Prosper High School principal Greg Wright talked about his faith at a pre-class Christian student club meeting last week, which caught the eye of some parents. Wisconsin-based Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter to Wright, saying it’s against the law for teachers or administrators to lead students in prayer.
Many Christian students said that’s not exactly what happened, though, and they feel like their religious freedom is under attack.
"Don’t let anyone tell you you can’t pray," Prosper town councilman Mike Korbuly said during a rally where he led dozens of students in prayer.
During the rally, mother Janie Oyakawa sat a few miles away in tears.
“It’s just a way to say you’re the out group. You don’t belong here. And it’s mean," she said. "If my children were in the majority group, the majority group in anything, I’d never let them treat people in that way."
This controversy all started last week when Wright attended a meeting held by the school's flagpole by a student-run Christian club for high school students called “First Priority." Senior Maddy Ray, who helped create the organization, invited Wright, whom she looks up to.
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"It’s not just because we’re a Christian group that he agreed to be there," she said. "Any organization at all that asks Mr. Wright to come show up somewhere or asks Mr. Wright to speak, he will do it."
Ray said Wright spoke about how his faith inspires him and what prayer means in his daily life, which Oyakawa complained online was inappropriate.
“My thought as a student, and as the student who organized it, is that I didn’t do anything wrong," Ray said. "But I still feel responsible."
Oyakawa said the issue, for her, is about separation of church and state. She also worries about Wright's influence.
"It puts pressure on students who are being graded by those people, need recommendation letters from those people or simply just crave the respect of those people,” she said.
A few days before Friday's rally, there was another prayer rally where Oyakawa said she felt her family was targeted and her son was picked on. She said several families and teachers told her the incident made them uncomfortable but were too afraid to say anything.
"They’re right to be afraid," she said. "It has been pure backlash to me."
Because of the controversy, Ray didn’t attend Friday's rally. She said she hoped only to inspire feelings of love, unity, and compassion among her peers.
“We believe in love and kindness," she said. "Anyone who acts otherwise isn’t acting as people who love the Lord."
Parents, students and even teachers attended Friday's rally in a field just off school grounds. The mood was upbeat at the rally, as students and town leaders said they’re inclusive and free of judgment.
“I think that people realize it’s important to pray. It’s different when you’re alone and when you’re together with people. That feeling of unity can build you up,” said freshman Kailee Walter.
But Oyakawa said she doesn’t feel the unity anymore.
“It’s made us feel blatantly unwelcome in our community," she said. "We’re proud, contributing members to Prosper. I was friends with these people who have now vilified me."
Oyakawa's son, Ben, told NBC 5 it's also been rough for him at school recently.
“I’ve gotten angry glares down the hallway, I’ve heard people whisper about me," he said. "It’s been unnerving the whole time. It makes me feel like I’m not part of this community.”
In fact, Ben decided to stay home from school Friday, worried he’d hear insults or worse. He said he's proud of his mother, though, and now wants to start a student group for agnostics and atheists.
Prosper High School has not yet responded to that letter from Freedom From Religion Foundation.
NBC 5 tried reaching Principal Wright to get his take, but he was out of the office.
NBC 5's Todd L. Davis contributed to this report.
