AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President (908) 276-7300
Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333



             ATHEISTS HAIL VERDICT IN OKLAHOMA TRIAL
            UNANIMOUS "NOT GUILTY" IN SMAKLOWSKI CASE


A jury in Guymon, Oklahoma has found a local Atheist father "not guilty"
on all counts following an alleged altercation over his daughter being
expelled from her high school sports team.

Chester Smalkowski, a resident of Hardesty, OK became concerned when
daughter Nicole was kicked off her school girl's basketball team after
refusing to join a prayer circle with teammates.  Together with Nicole
and her mother Nadia, Mr. Smalkowski approached the school principal in
an effort to discuss the matter.  A physical altercation ensued, and the
principal filed criminal assault charger.

When Smalkowski rejected an offer to have the charges dropped if he and
his Atheist family left the state, the charges were upgraded to a felony.

On June 22, 2006, the jury found Smalkowski innocent of the felony
charge of assault and two lesser charges involving misdemeanor assault.

Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists joined with
Enid, OK. attorney Tim Gungoll in defending Mr. Smalkowski.

"This is a major victory for civil rights," said Mr. Kagin following the
verdict.  "Much of this case depended on whether or not a jury of twelve
people from the heart of the American Bible belt would believe the word
of an Atheists in addition to the physical evidence."

Mr. Kagin also praised the wives of two ministers who during jury
selection informed the judge that they could not be fair to an Atheist
during a criminal trial.  They were dismissed.

"The system worked in this case," said Kagin.  Kagin also noted that
co-counsel Tin Gungoll was a practicing Roman Catholic.  He grilled the
jury, asking if members would consider him a hypocrite to his faith for
defending an Atheist. "Attorneys and jurors in the Smalkowski case did a
remarkable thing," added Kagin.  They checked their opinions about
religion at the front door of the court house and looked only at the
evidence."

American Atheists will soon be filing a civil lawsuit in Federal Court
involving issues of unconstitutional and coerced religious expression;
conspiracy to deny civil rights and other aspects of the Nicole
Smalkowski case.

For further information:

-- ELLEN JOHNSON, President, American Atheists  908-276-7300
-- EDWIN KAGIN, National Legal Director, American Atheists 859-380-3427
or 859-380-3426

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for
Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and
addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.
P. O. Box 5733
Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402