Ryan Walters’ SLAPP Lawsuit Against FFRF

Ryan Walters vs. the Constitution: A Masterclass in Missing the Point

When it comes to Oklahoma's education system, Superintendent Ryan Walters seems less interested in improving literacy rates and more focused on turning public schools into Sunday schools. His latest move? Suing the Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF) for reminding schools that teacher‑led prayers over the intercom are, you know, unconstitutional (KGOU, April 2, 2025).

The Backstory: Prayers Over the PA

It all started when FFRF sent letters to several Oklahoma school districts—including Achille, Putnam City, and Skiatook—pointing out the obvious: broadcasting Bible verses over the loudspeaker and opening the school day with prayer is about as constitutional as teaching Genesis in biology class.

This wasn’t some overreach by “militant atheists”—it was a reminder rooted in over 60 years of settled law. Supreme Court rulings like Engel v. Vitale (1962) and Lee v. Weisman (1992) prohibit school-led prayer and religious coercion in public education. But Walters? He called it “anti-Christian bullying,” as if FFRF were shaking down Jesus behind the bleachers.

So, instead of addressing the legal concerns or, I don’t know, reading a civics textbook, Walters escalated. He filed a federal lawsuit aiming to silence FFRF altogether. That’s right—he sued them for quoting the law, asking the court to effectively muzzle anyone who dares challenge unconstitutional behavior in Oklahoma schools.

Civil-liberties lawyers saw the move for what it was: a shameless SLAPP meant to chill secular advocacy. The ACLU’s motion to dismiss, filed May 10, 2025, didn’t mince words—this was a “retaliatory and baseless” attack on protected First Amendment speech (ACLU Motion to Dismiss).

Enter the SLAPP Suit

Walters’ lawsuit doesn’t allege any specific illegal action by FFRF. Instead, it argues that their letters—which warned schools they were likely violating the Establishment Clause—amount to harassment. This is a textbook Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP): it’s not about winning on the merits; it’s about punishing people for speaking out.

As the ACLU noted in its motion to dismiss, "The First Amendment prohibits the government from retaliating against citizens and organizations for expressing views it disfavors."

Walters' War on Secularism

This isn’t Walters’ first unconstitutional rodeo. He’s been pushing religious indoctrination under the guise of patriotism since he took office. In March, Walters announced that every classroom should be adorned with a Bible and American flag—an idea that was about as subtle as a televangelist’s Rolex.

He also tried to require students to watch a video featuring himself talking about religion and patriotism, broadcast statewide. The Oklahoma Attorney General's office warned this had no legal basis and could trigger lawsuits of its own.

The Bigger Picture: A National Trend

Walters isn’t acting in a vacuum. His actions reflect a broader trend of Christian nationalism creeping into public policy. According to a 2023 report from the Baptist Joint Committee for Religious Liberty and the Freedom From Religion Foundation, this movement seeks to fuse Christian identity with American identity—often at the expense of religious minorities, secular Americans, and, well, the Constitution itself.

Groups like Americans United for Separation of Church and State have pointed to Oklahoma as a testbed for policies that could go national. Think Project 2025, the Heritage Foundation’s playbook for a post-secular federal government. The lawsuit against FFRF is not just about one state; it’s a warning shot for anyone who values the wall between church and state.

Why It Matters: What’s at Stake

Oklahoma ranks near the bottom nationally in public education. According to the National Education Association’s 2024 rankings, the state is 47th in teacher pay and 49th in per-pupil spending. Instead of focusing on fixing that mess, Walters is spending time and tax dollars on what amounts to a PR stunt for the religious right.

Meanwhile, public school students in Oklahoma—Christian, atheist, Muslim, Jewish, or otherwise—deserve an education free from coercion and ideological posturing. That’s not anti-Christian. That’s constitutional.

Quotes That Say It All

• Annie Laurie Gaylor, co-president of FFRF: “Superintendent Ryan Walters cannot be allowed to employ the machinery of the state to indoctrinate Oklahoma’s students in his religion.”

• Daniel Mach, ACLU Director of Freedom of Religion and Belief: “Yet again, Walters is trying to use his preferred scripture to divide public-school students and their families along religious lines. But government officials should not be playing favorites with faith, and Oklahomans deserve better.”

What Comes Next

As of June 2025, the federal court is considering the ACLU’s motion to dismiss. Legal analysts suggest the case is unlikely to proceed far, given the clear constitutional protections involved. But even if Walters loses, he wins in another sense: the political theater. He gets to frame himself as the brave Christian soldier fighting off the secular hordes, even if he's just wasting everyone's time and money.

Expect appeals, press conferences, and more lawsuits. Also expect FFRF, the ACLU, and every civil-liberties nerd on the internet to keep receipts.

What You Can Do (Besides Rage-Scroll)

• Follow the Case: Stick with FFRF, ACLU, and secular news orgs for real-time updates.

• Call It Out: If you're in Oklahoma, ask your local reps why taxpayer money is being burned on bad lawsuits instead of, say, pencils.

• Find Your Oklahoma State Senator

• Donate: Support the people doing the legal heavy lifting—whether that’s FFRF, ACLU, Americans United, or even us over at Sacrilegious Discourse.

• Share This Post: Because nothing says "I love the Constitution" like pointing out who’s trying to light it on fire.

Call to Action: If your government sues people for quoting the First Amendment, your government needs a refresher on what that amendment actually says. Share this. Rage. Repeat.