The ACLU and three plaintiffs filed a lawsuit Tuesday calling for an injunction stopping Rowan County Commissioners from praying before meetings.

The ACLU says those prayers violate constitutional rights and make some citizens feel unwelcome.

"It's a very clear First Amendment issue," said Mike Meno, the communications director for the ACLU of North Carolina.

Meno says the ACLU has asked the county to stop before, but it hasn't.

The lawsuit lists three plaintiffs. All are Rowan County residents involved in the community. The paperwork says they want to and do attend meetings, but say Christian prayer before meetings is offensive and not in line with their beliefs.

The lawsuit cites a 2011 ruling that found Forsyth County's holding of sectarian prayer unconstitutional.

"We received more complaints from Rowan County than anywhere else in the state about unconstitutional prayers being used at government meetings," said Meno.

The ACLU says that if government officials want to pray before meetings, the court ruling says prayer can't be specific to one religion.

The lawsuit states, "since November 2007, 97% of all Board meetings have featured expressly Christian prayer."

Some Rowan County residents Eyewitness News spoke with say they don't agree with the lawsuit and hope the prayers stay.

"I don't think it's up to a judge. I think we should vote on it, the public should vote on it," said Eddie Gladden, from Salisbury.

"They should be able to say prayers," said Thomas Bostian, from Salisbury.

Eyewitness News did reach out to the Rowan County Board Chairman on Tuesday night. He said he can't comment on this case but that the Board and the county attorney will meet Monday.