MIDDLETON, Wis. – The parents and students who gather on Tuesdays in a public park for “Jesus Lunches” have become targets of weekly harassment.
Last week, officials from the Middleton-Cross Plains school district, led by Superintendent Donald Johnson, blocked off the parking lot at Fireman’s Park, where the parents and students meet, and tried to dissuade the parents from hosting the lunch. (See related story here.)
The parents walked past them and the lunch went on, as planned.
On Tuesday numerous protesters, including several students and officials from the Madison-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, showed up to protest while the parents and children tried to assemble in peace.
The result was a loud shouting match between the Christian students and protesters. The chaotic scene attracted media attention and intensified the growing debate over the weekly event.