American Atheists, Inc.
P O Box 140195
Austin, Texas 78714-0195
(512) 458-1244
http://www.atheists.org


                           PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:
February 7, 1997

                     American Atheists Condemn
             Alabama Governor's "Prayers at Gunpoint"

          Fob James threatens to shoot American citizens
                  to enforce prayer in courtroom


    American Atheists today condemned Alabama Gov. Fob James for his threat
to use the national guard and state police to keep prayer and other religious
rituals in the courtroom of the County Judge Roy Moore.  In Birmingham, the
news media has reported that the Governor told a Baptist prayer luncheon that
he would use such force to resist any court order putting an end to prayer
rituals in the courtroom.  Etowah Circuit Court Judge Moore has been at the
center of controversy for several months; he has opened sessions in his
chambers with prayer, and posted the Ten Commandments.  In November, another
Circuit Court Judge in Alabama, Charles Price, issued a "cease and desist"
ruling concerning the prayers; despite this and the clearly unconstitutional
nature of these rituals, Moore and his cause have become a rallying point
for religious groups who defend prayer activity in government functions,
including court proceedings and school classrooms.
    "The Governor wants to use not only the political power of his office,
but the brute force of the police and national guard to make sure that
defendants, attorneys, spectators and everyone else must be subject to
conjuring in a court of flaw," charged Ronald Barrier, Nat'l. Media
Coordinator for America Atheists.  "Fob James is a prayer bully.  He's not
only defying the law, but he's giving his state a bad reputation as a
sinkhole of un-enlightened behavior."
    American Atheists President Ellen Johnson noted, "Fob James seems to have
selective standards when it comes to upholding the law.  He wants to force
his prayer rituals on the public and violate the rights of the people who
don't wish to be subjected to public conjuring."
    "The 'butt-whipping' here," charged Johnson, "is directed at the First
Amendment, individual rights of non-believers and anyone else who doesn't
want to be subjected to religious proselytizing in a courtroom."
    Mr. Barrier also criticized the petition drive being conducted by
religious groups in support of the courtroom prayer.  "It doesn't matter how
many signatures they gather in Alabama, or any other state.  The Bill of
Rights shouldn't be dependent on a petition drive.  It is not a question of
majority rule."


For more information please contact:
Mr. Ronald Barrier,    (718)356-8658      Email: rbarrier@atheists.org
National Media Coordinator