Trent Lott: “Almighty God, we ask that You bless our parents, teachers, and country throughout this day. In Your name we pray. Amen.…”

“Almighty God, we ask that You bless our parents, teachers, and country throughout this day. In Your name we pray. Amen. That was the prayer of the students read over the public address system in Jackson, MS, at Wingfield High School. That was the prayer read by a young lady who, I believe, was the president of the student body. It was a prayer that was written by the students, delivered by students, and voted for by an overwhelming majority of the students. The principal in that school said that that was OK. His name was Bishop Knox. He was an African-American principal who said the students have a right on a voluntary basis to read this prayer. It is not a very offensive prayer in anybody's mind. After the principal stood up for the students' right to do this, he was fired. Nineteen students were suspended because they skipped class, out of protest, in support of the principal. After the principal was fired, 4,000 people attended a rally on November 28, 1993, on the steps of the State Capitol. So, now, we are suspending students and we are firing principals because the students would like to have a voluntary prayer: A prayer they selected; a prayer that is nondenominational and is nonoffensive.”