American Atheists President Ellen Johnson testifies before a panel of the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights probing religious expression in public schools. She calls for action against faith-based bullying and harassment, and protections for student freedom from religion. "Atheists need to 'just say no' to aggressive proselytizing. And their position needs to be respected!"

he nation's public school system is not doing enough to protect the rights of non-religious students who are sometimes harassed and intimidated -- even assaulted -- for not going along with religious activities. That was part of the message from American Atheists President Ellen Johnson in testimony before the U.S. Commission on Civil Rights during a hearing earlier today in Seattle, Washington. The hearing was the final round of a three-meeting probe conducted by the Commission examining religious expression and problems in public school districts, with special attention paid to the Equal Access Act.

   Other organizations represented at the fact-finding session included Christian Educators Association, American Civil Liberties Union, Western Center for Law and Religious Freedom, and the National Center for Science Education. It was a "first," though, for American Atheists; no nonbeliever group has previously received the opportunity to address the Commission, and most of the debate over the role of religion in public schools has, until now, been largely conducted by faith-based groups who happen to disagree.

    "It's a big step for Atheists and American Atheists," noted Ron Barrier, National Spokesperson for the organization.

    Johnson also presented the Commission with a special report compiled by American Atheists titled "Unconstitutional Religious Expression in the Public Schools." A full copy is now on the American Atheists web site at http://www.atheists.org/schoolhouse/seattle.html.

    Ms. Johnson told Commissioners that while well intentioned, the Equal Access Act -- originally designed to permit students to form religious clubs in schools where other non-curriculum groups were allowed -- did not adequately protect free expression, or the rights of Atheists and other students. "The Equal Access Act allows school officials to shut down all student organizations, as they attempted to do in Salt Lake City when a gay support group was formed. Nobody wins, and everyone's right to free expression is violated." Johnson cautioned that the EAA simply does not go far enough in delineating the rights of non-religious students who want to "just say no" to aggressive and violative religious practices, from harassment by "prayer warriors" to unconstitutional activities like teacher-organized prayer. She added that enforcement mechanisms are almost nonexistent. "Short of costly private action, students who are targets of religious harassment don't have adequate remedies to address and solve these sorts of problems."

   "Administrators, teachers and other officials have been known to turn a blind-eye to reports of inappropriate behavior by excited religious students and clubs."

    "Despite the law and thirty-five years of U.S. Supreme Court rulings in cases like MURRAY v. CURLETT, we still find a disturbing pattern of violations."

    Evidence presented to the Commission included a number of specific cases:

   ¶    In Portland, Oregon, Atheist activist Nancy Powell has challenged local schools for providing access to students during regular school time to recruit. The BSA discriminates against gays and Atheists.

   ¶    Students in certain high schools have encountered "aggressive proselytizing" in hallways, lobbies and other locations. "Some of these religious groups are not student 'clubs' in the traditional sense; they're intimidating and harassing students to accept literature, attend prayer circles or show up for religious events." She added that in some schools, the First Amendment was being "circumvented in the name of 'faith'."

    "Recruiting and exploiting children to prey upon other children, especially when parents are not around, is a religious tactic. The problems occurring in the schools are not because of Atheist students, but are due to the bullying tactics and lack of respect of overly aggressive Christian students."

    Johnson added, "There is no doubt that the so-called 'accommodation' of various religious philosophies and permitting ritual in the schools is inherently divisive."

    Ron Barrier, National Spokesperson for American Atheists, noted that the Special Report presented to the Commission suggests that "The goals of the Equal Access Act are an illusion."

"Religious groups want more than equal access to schools... They want to control access." -- Ron Barrier, AMERICAN ATHEISTS

    "Religious groups want more than 'equal access' to schools," said Barrier. "They want to control access." He suggested that "Atheist students and others belonging to a minority faith need to more openly exercise their right to say "No, thank you" to aggressive religious solicitation.

    "How else do you explain the need of 'faith-based' individuals and organizations for secular, government guidelines on ethical behavior," asked barrier. "If Atheists were the problem, the government should have released 'Guidelines for Atheists in Public Schools'."

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