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FRANKLIN COUNTY, N.C. -- Conducting prayer at a high school graduation is an issue that has several people in Franklin County speaking out. This comes after the school board voted to ban prayer at all school sponsored events.

Protesters plan to hold a vigil at the Franklin County courthouse in response to that ban Friday night. This comes in light of Saturday's graduation at Franklinton High School where prayer was initially part of the service.

The school board voted on this ban after a parent's complaint to the American Civil Liberties Union. That parent voiced concerns about plans to have prayer at Franklinton High School's upcoming graduation.

The ACLU then drafted a letter noting the supreme court's ruling that prayer in school sponsored functions is unconstitutional. Despite some opposition from the school board, they complied with the requests to stop government sponsored prayer.

"It's unfortunately not the easiest thing to do, but it's the only thing that would make sense to have to end up losing," said Boyd Sturges, the attorney for the Franklin County Board of Education. "If it weren't for the massive amounts of attorney's fees. They have no choice."

Opponents of the ban say prayer has been a part of the graduation ceremony for generations and is part of the school's tradition. Meanwhile, the Franklin County School Board also banned prayer from any future school sponsored events.

They now plan to put policies in place over the coming months. Friday night's vigil takes place at 7 p.m.