Students walk out of high school to bring Ten Commandments back in

About 200 students walked out of Giles High School Monday morning, demanding the return of a Ten Commandments display.

The students were met by about a dozen parents and community leaders. Together, they prayed that the displays be returned to school buildings in Giles County. They were removed last month, after threats of a lawsuit from the American Civil Liberties Union and the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

One after another, after another, students marched out of Giles High School.

"We can make decisions for ourselves," said protest organizer and local radio personality Marcus Wagner.

"This is Giles County and Christ is a big, big, big part of Giles County. For those who don't like it, go somewhere else," shouted one student.  She was greeted by a round of cheers from the crowd.

The students prayed and then one by one students spoke out on the reasons they wanted the Ten Commandments placed back in their school.

"This is America and we can have our Ten Commandments and if they don't like it, they can get out," said one boy.

"If you don’t like the Ten Commandments, don’t look at them. They are ours to look at if we like to look at them. If you don’t like them, don’t look at them," said one girl.

"It’s just freedom of religion and speech," said one boy.

"It's our choice to have the Ten Commandments. It's not the law's choice or anything, it's not the state’s choice or anything. It’s Giles County’s choice. It’s the kid’s choice," said another student.

School officials asked the students to come back inside after about an hour of protesting.  They would not say if the students will face any disciplinary action.

"Lets make this a good thing and let's go to class," said a Giles High School assistant principal.

Protest organizers say those students who went back to class did not get in trouble. Several students were disciplined for leaving school property, fighting, or other activities beyond the organized protest, protest organizers said.

"I understand we need to go to class and we need to learn, but we are fighting for a cause," said a student.

The school board has previously said the Ten Commandments will not be put back up in their current form, due to the threat of a lawsuit.

"I'm proud of our youth for taking this stand. They believe strongly in this," said a youth pastor who joined the protest.

The school and the school board had no comment on the protest.

Some students say they will continue protesting everyday until the Ten Commandments are put back up on the school walls.

Giles High School has about 700 students, according to online data. About 200 students attended Monday's protest. Some students said they were encouraged by other community/church leaders not to attend the walk-out.

In response to Monday's walkout, The Freedom from Religion Foundation released the following statement:

The Freedom From Religion Foundation would rather see Giles County students stand up for the Constitution and freedom of conscience, than walk out in support of theocracy. It is not only unconstitutional to post one religion's edicts on the walls of public schools, but it is bad manners. Public schools must treat all students, regardless of religious views, equally. It is clear that the Ten Commandments violation of ten years' standing has created a perception among some believing students that they are favored, and that other students are political outsiders. This divisiveness proves our point that religion has no place in public schools, because it creates walls between students.