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

For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President (908) 276-7300
Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director at 859-384-7000

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: August 11, 2006


American Atheists filed suit in federal court today on behalf of an
Oklahoma family who say their civil rights were violated by the Hardesty,
Oklahoma  Public Schools and the Texas County, Oklahoma  Sheriff's
Department.

The daughter of Chester Smalkowski wanted to play basketball for the
Hardesty Public Schools.  She was forced from the team when she, an
Atheist, refused to recite the Lord's Prayer  after  a game as was
required by the school.  When the Smalkowski family complained about
this unconstitutional practice, she was suspended.  Further complaints
resulted in criminal charges being brought against her father.

Chester Smalkowski refused to submit to a request from the District
Attorney to move his family out of the County in exchange for the
charges being dropped.  His case went to trial last month, and he was
acquitted of all charges by a jury.  The Smalkowski children have been
threatened and subjected to discrimination for  the daughter's refusal
to participate in the prayer recitation.

The family is being represented  in the civil lawsuit by Oklahoma City
attorney Richard Rice, and  by American Atheists National  Legal
Director Edwin Kagin of Kentucky who, together with attorney Tim Gungoll
of Enid, Oklahoma successfully represented Chester Smalkowski in his
criminal trial in Hardesty.   Mr. Rice is a member of the Southern
Baptist Church in Midwest City.  Mr. Rice stated: "I have the right to
pray, believe in God, attend church without fear of reprisal from any
branch of any government here in America."  Co-counsel Edwin Kagin adds:
"I have the right to NOT pray, to NOT believe in God, or to NOT attend
church without fear of reprisal from any branch of any government here
in America."  Both men, differing in their opinions in respect to
theology, have teamed up to support the same legal and ideological
position with regard to the First Amendment.

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