Church members distributed Bibles near Spearfish Middle School on Tuesday, prompting concerns from some parents who felt the event might push religious or political beliefs.
While the Bibles were handed out off school property, the incident follows the Oklahoma State Department of Education’s controversial proposal to purchase 55,000 Bibles for classrooms, specifically the “God Bless the USA Bible” endorsed by Donald Trump.
Although the Bible’s publishers claim it is non-political, the inclusion of Trump’s licensed name has stirred debate.
Spearfish school officials confirmed the church members were not harassing students, and the district monitored the situation to ensure safety, though they could not intervene since the activity occurred off school grounds.