AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
                 P.O. Box 140195   Austin, TX  78714
                           (512)458-1244

http://www.atheists.org                               For Immediate Release:
PRESS RELEASE                                         July 15, 1997


              AMERICAN ATHEISTS TO HOLD PRESS CONFERENCE
                       ON U.S. CAPITOL STEPS
         "It's Time to Be Heard!" on First Amendment Issues

    American Atheists will hold a press conference and rally in front of the
U.S. Capitol (West front steps facing the Capitol Mall)  in Washington, D.C.
next Tuesday, July 22, 1997 at 10:30am, to protest the "believers only"
policy of the House Judiciary Committee regarding testimony over the
Religious Freedom Amendment(RFA).
    Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, said that the Committee's
bias in limiting input about the proposed RFA  "continues the discriminatory
practice of allowing comment before Congress exclusively from religious
groups who happen to either oppose or favor this legislation."  She added:
"This policy marginalizes and discriminates against the millions of Americans
who are atheists, profess no religious belief, or simply don't want
religion."
    The House Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on July 22 about the
RFA, a measure that would allow school prayer and other religious ritual in
public institutions, as well as target and identify non-Christians for future
evangelization.
    Ron Barrier, National Media Coordinator for AA, noted that only three
individuals have been invited to testify against the RFA next Tuesday.  "Two
of these are ministers, and the other is associated with a Baptist college.
How fair is that?"
    "When hearings were held in 1996 regarding a similar measure our submitted,
written testimony never even appeared in the congressional record," said Mr.
Barrier.
    Ms. Johnson claims, "If Congress is considering constitutional amendments
which impose religion on Atheists, affecting their finances, their children,
and their very right to intellectual freedom,  then Atheists demand to be
heard."
    At Tuesday's press conference, American Atheists will issue the testimony
that the House Judiciary Committee does not want the public to hear.