A group of schoolchildren were asked to leave the White House after stopping to pray for President George W. Bush.
A group of 11 children, two parents and a teacher were escorted out of the White House after holding hands and praying. A Secret Service agent reportedly told them to “take it outside.”
The group was from Merrimon Christian School in Asheville, N.C. Their congressional representatives are seeking explanations from White House security staff.
Teacher Pat Aldrich said the group decided to join hands and pray during their tour. “Larry the group leader, started with his prayer first and each person was going to say a brief prayer,” she told The Asheville Tribune. Aldrich prayed next, but was interrupted by a Secret Service agent “Pounding” on a parent’s shoulder and “yelling ‘Ma’am! Ma’am! “ she said.
A spokesperson for the Secret Service said the agent may have simply been keeping visitors moving during the tour. But Aldrich said the group ahead of hers on the tour loitered in the same room for about 10 minutes without being harassed. When she pointed that out to the agent, Aldrich said the agent yelled, “I make the rules here, and you obey them!” (EP)
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