WATCH: Phoenix School Board Member Shut Down For Praying

By Esther Wickham

During a Phoenix school board meeting, member Jeremiah Cota was quickly shut down for saying the Lord’s Prayer, rather than an Indigenous land acknowledgement.

In an exclusive interview with The Center Square, Cota, who represents Ward One on the Phoenix Union High School District Governing Board, recounted his experience being silenced at a board meeting on Aug. 8.

The board member highlighted the fact that these land acknowledgements are treated like a religious prayer.

“I do fully believe these land acknowledgements are like a religious ritual. And I am well aware that it is very reverent when they say these acknowledgments,” said Cota. “It is hushed tones, it is bowing of the heads. It is a very solemn moment. And it is a prayer, if you ask me.”

Land acknowledgements are statements by organizations that recognize it is on land that historically was inhabited by Indigenous peoples.

Cota, a member of the Free People of the San Carlos Apache tribe, grew up on an American Indian reservation. He explained land acknowledgments are not appropriate at board meetings and said it is simply virtue signaling.

“They basically ascribe victimhood status if you’re a Native American,” Cota said. “I can say as a tribal member, no one has ever asked me if a land acknowledgment about my tribe is OK. It’s virtue signaling and to make them feel good about themselves.”

As a newly appointed board member, Cota, at his third meeting, was asked to read the land acknowledgement. Instead, he started reading the Lord’s Prayer, but was swiftly interrupted by legal counsel.

“We can’t have a religious prayer before we start to read the land acknowledgment,” said the board parliamentarian during the meeting.

Cota continued to read the Lord’s Prayer.

Board President Ceyshe Napa interrupted Cota, and he was ruled out of order.

“I just don’t know why the Lord’s Prayer was so offensive to many people in the room, and that’s very concerning to me,” Cota said.

Simultaneously, he was told that the board does not follow Robert’s Rules of Order and that it is “merely a suggestion.”

The Phoenix Union’s own Rules of Order state otherwise:

“In matters of procedure not covered by law or Board policy, Robert’s Rules… shall be used as a guide.”

“Oh, I was shocked. I was absolutely shocked when I heard her say that,” Cota told The Center Square. “We have Robert’s rules of order that govern all our meetings, so I was absolutely shocked when I heard her say that Robert’s rules of order do not apply here.”

In experiencing what he considers to be religious discrimination, Cota has since written a complaint letter to Arizona Attorney General Kris Mayes. He said he will continue to advocate for freedom of religion.

“If you’re going to allow the land acknowledgments, you should allow a prayer. That should be the rule, or we should not have the land acknowledgment,” Cota said. “As a board member, that is something I’m going to work on, because I do believe they (land acknowledgments) don’t have any role in our governing body. They don’t add to the student’s academic performance. This doesn’t have to do anything with the students at all.”

Phoenix Union High School District currently has over 27,000 students enrolled in the Arizona capital’s area.

“I got into the education field because I cared about what was going on, especially on my reservation,” Cota said. “I do encourage others to be involved with your child’s education. I always say, if you don’t raise your children, someone else will.”

Esther Wickham is an education reporter for The Center Square. Please email her at ewickham@thecentersquare.com for tips or questions.