Atheists demand public school take down Christian flag. Then students respond with defiant action.

After a national atheist organization demanded the removal of a Christian flag flying outside a Texas public school, a few students pushed back in defiant fashion against the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

"Sooooo you didn't like the one flag we had flying," a Facebook post asked, "how about three more ... We have a great group of kids I tell you what ..."

A few LaPoynor High School students flew Christian flags from their vehicles Wednesday, KETK-TV reported, following the atheist group's demands.

How did the FFRF find out about the Christian flag outside the school?

LaPoynor Superintendent James Young told KETK that a former student contacted the atheist organization after a recent "See You at the Pole" event at the Larue, Texas, school.

What is "See You at the Pole"?

It's a national movement in which students gather around school flagpoles to pray on a predetermined date at the start of the school year.

What did the FFRF do?

The atheist group sent a letter to the LaPoynor Independent School District outlining constitutional violations, KETK said.

What are the FFRF's beefs?

• A Christian flag was placed on one of the school's flag poles at the "See You at the Pole" event, KETK reported, and the FFRF said it's unconstitutional for the school to display the flag — which includes a Latin cross.

Image source: KYTX-TV video screenshot

• The FFRF said the school district promoted the "See You at the Pole" event on district social media pages, KETK reported, which the FFRF said violates the Establishment Clause.
• The FFRF also said the district's Facebook page and website promoted its annual baccalaureate ceremony with a picture of a diploma atop an open Bible and that also violated constitutional law, KETK reported.
• The FFRF wants the Christian flag taken down, KETK said, and district to ensure that employees aren't organizing, promoting or participating in religious events while on the job.

How is the district responding?

• The Christian flag will remain flying for the time being, KLTV-TV reported.
• Young released a statement to KETK saying the district is "in the process of reviewing the concerns addressed in the correspondence and will take any action deemed necessary" and that it's "committed to achieving an appropriate balance between permissible religious expression and the obligation to maintain neutrality in its policies and practices."

How are community members reacting?

• “The Freedom From Religion organization really has a distorted and inaccurate view of the separation of church and state in the First Amendment,” one man said at last week's school board meeting, KLTV said. “Matter of fact I'd like to say that their viewpoint is probably void and alien to that of our Founding Fathers."
• "They fight against what's right, what's sacred and what is holy to Christians," the man added, KYTX-TV reported. "And we can call them nothing else but tyrannists."

Image source: KYTX-TV video screenshot

• The man also said, "The day may come that we have to take the flag down, but I say until that day comes, let's give 'em as much hell as we can," KYTX noted. The man's statment drew applause and laughter from the crowd.
• At the meeting, the superintendent asked anyone who opposed the Christian flag to stand, and no one did, KLTV reported.

(H/T: Todd Starnes)