Atheist Family Files Civil Rights Claims Against School and Sheriff's Department

In Oklahoma, a federal civil rights suit has been filed on behalf of the Smalkowski family against the Hardesty, OK Public Schools and the Texas County Sheriff's Department. The suit alleges that daughter Nicole Smalkowski was forced from the Hardesty school basketball team for refusing to take part in reciting the Lord's Prayer after a game, and she was later suspended when her family complained. Subsequently Chester Smalkowski got into an altercation with the school principal over these events, was charged with assault and was acquitted. (See prior posting.) Smalkowski alleges that the District Attorney offered to drop charges if the family moved out of the county. (See prior posting.) American Atheists, whose national legal director is one of the attorneys representing the Smalkowskis, has issued a press release on the case.