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Washington state high school football coach suspended for postgame prayers files complaint

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FILE - In this Nov. 5, 2015, file photo, former Bremerton High School assistant football coach Joe Kennedy poses on the field at Bremerton Memorial Stadium in Bremerton, Wash. Kennedy, who was suspended for praying at midfield after games, has filed a discrimination complaint on Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015 with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission according to The Liberty Institute, a Texas-based law firm representing the coach. (Larry Steagall/Kitsap Sun via AP, file) MANDATORY CREDIT

SEATTLE – A Washington state high school assistant football coach who was suspended for praying at midfield after games has filed a discrimination complaint.

The Liberty Institute, a Texas-based law firm representing coach Joe Kennedy, says he filed the complaint Tuesday with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

It alleges Bremerton School District discriminated against him when it suspended him Oct. 28.

Kennedy had prayed before and after games, sometimes joined by students, since 2008.

The district asked him to stop when the practice came to its attention this year, but he persisted by silently taking a knee and praying. The district argued that students could feel coerced to participate in religious activity when they see their coaches lead or endorse it.

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