What makes people respond?

I have heard countless stories about God being removed from the public, but the story about cheerleaders signs being taken down in Oglethorpe, Ga stood out. In most cases it seems like when the government removes religion from things Christians get angry but never do anything to follow up. Here, we have a whole community in uproar about something as small as a football sign. Why is it that these people are willing to protest and rebel over this but when prayer was removed from schools actions weren't this bold?