A school assembly at Haywood High School in Haywood County, Tennessee, that featured Memphis rapper Project Pat has drawn First Amendment scrutiny and legal concern after it was criticized as a religiously charged event held during school hours.

More Details Behind Project Pats First Amendment Scrutiny

According to reports, the December 5 assembly took place during the school day, was presented as a mandatory event for students.

During the gathering, adults on stage asked students to identify their religious beliefs, including whether they were Christian or Muslim, and then led the group in prayer. Project Pat spoke to students during the assembly, quoting the Bible and leading them in prayer. He also distributed copies of the book The Tongue: A Creative Force by author Charlie Capps.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation (FFRF), a national advocacy group focused on church-state separation issues, filed a formal complaint with the district after the event, arguing that the assembly violated the First Amendment by including compulsory religious content in a public school setting.

FFRF argues that students have a constitutional right not to be subjected to state-sponsored religious activities while on school grounds. In its letter to school officials, FFRF emphasized that public schools may not “show favoritism toward or coerce belief or participation in religion,” especially in mandatory settings where students cannot reasonably opt out without facing consequences.

In response to the complaints, the Haywood County School District acknowledged the concerns raised about students’ and staff’s First Amendment rights. The district said it will exercise increased caution when selecting guest speakers and planning school events to ensure compliance with constitutional protections. At the time of reporting, no legal actions have been formally filed against the district or the assembly organizers.

There has been no response from Project Pat or his representatives regarding the controversy that has been publicly released.