Public Radio International (PRI)

Jessica Ahlquist, a 16-year-old-junior at Cranston High School West in Rhode Island, and an outspoken atheist, explains why she took her school to court over a school prayer.

“When you read the words ‘school prayer’ that really says something to a student. It says that the school prays, and that school believes in the Heavenly Father — believes in God. And as someone who doesn’t, I don’t really feel like I’m a part of that school.”

Last month Jessica expressed her views at school board hearings and a federal judge ruled in her favor deeming prayer’s presence at Cranston High School to be unconstitutional. In retaliation, residents have threatened Ahlquist and others like State Representative Peter G. Palumbo have called her “an evil little thing.”

(Photo: Jessica Ahlquist from her Facebook page.)