FFLC Client Angela Kilgore Allowed to Pray at Suffolk School Board Meeting

Last night, at the Suffolk City School Board meeting, our client at Founding Freedoms Law Center (FFLC), Angela Kilgore, was permitted to pray as part of her public comments after FFLC negotiated an agreement with the school board. You can view her testimony and prayer HERE beginning at 3:15:30.

At the Suffolk School Board’s August 10 meeting, School Board Chairman Tyron Riddick interrupted Ms. Kilgore's allotted public comment period when she felt prompted to say a brief prayer “for Suffolk Public Schools, for all of [the board members].” Upon this verbal prohibition, members of the audience began to recite the Lord's Prayer, resulting in a request that security clear the room. Chairman Riddick later explained that if they were to allow a Christian prayer, they would then have to allow other religious prayers, which some might find objectionable. 

In response, FFLC initially joined with First Liberty Institute in sending a letter to the Suffolk School Board urging members to update their public comment policies to reflect the right of religious citizens to express their viewpoints without fear of censorship. After the board denied any wrongdoing and doubled down on its decision, FFLC followed up with a demand letter on behalf of Ms. Kilgore, demanding that they allow Ms. Kilgore to pray as she had planned. After our attorneys were able to fully communicate the constitutional issues at play, the board finally agreed to allow Ms. Kilgore to pray during her public comment time. At the board’s Nov. 9th meeting, Ms. Kilgore was permitted to make comments which included a prayer, but not without Superintendent Gordon and Dr. Brooks-Buck vacating the room. 

“We are pleased that the Suffolk School Board eventually acknowledged that they were wrong to discriminate against Angela Kilgore in denying her the ability to express religious speech,” said Victoria Cobb, President of The Family Foundation and its legal arm, Founding Freedoms Law Center. “The government doesn’t get to disfavor or disallow religious speech over non-religious speech.” 

According to Angela Kilgore, “I’m glad they got the message and that I had the opportunity to pray. In my comments, I shared, 'You were wrong by shutting me down. You know it. I know it and now everyone will know it.' I decided that I could not stay silent and just go away because the right of free speech including prayer is simply too important.”