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

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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: February 26, 2007


              NO MORE GOVERNMENT SPONSORED PRAYER RALLIES -
            SETTLEMENT FINALIZED IN JACKSONVILLE, FLA. CASE

Final settlement has been reached in a case involving the use of
government money to promote and organize a prayer rally in Jacksonville,
Fla.

In August, 2006, Jacksonville officials spent approximately $100,000 of
taxpayer money to stage a Day of Faith: Arming Our Prayer Warriors"
revival meeting featuring government and police officials, and clergy
from the area.  The religious gathering was supposedly staged to combat
the city's soaring homicide rate.  AMERICAN ATHEISTS, a nationwide
movement defending the separation of church and state, unsuccessfully
tried to stop the event, but has now reached a settlement with the city.

Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists, said that in
a public letter, Jacksonville officials have announced that they will
pay legal costs incurred by the organization.  The City also agreed to
provide all municipal departments with a notice stating: "With regard to
any program that may be presented... (1) Each program must have a
secular purpose; (2) Each program must be one which neither advances nor
inhibits religion; and (3) Each program must not foster excessive
entanglement with religion."

Kagin hailed the settlement as a victory for the First Amendment.  "We
made a solid case that this event encouraged people to 'prayer warriors'
and was used to fund an event saturated with religious slogans, prayer,
and clergy."

"You can't use public money to put on a religious event," Kagin added.
He added that while city officials were still making statements to news
media defending the prayer rally, "I don't think we're going to be
seeing this sort of constitutional violation in Jacksonville."

Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, said: "Despite all of the
prayers, Jacksonville's homicide rate remains high.  The answer to
problems like this is social action -- better schools, jobs and civic
institutions.  All the praying the world doesn't solve unemployment,
lack of education, and other social problems."

For further comment, contact: Edwin Kagin, (859) 384-7000 or Ellen
Johnson,  (908) 276-7300


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