Bremerton football coach suspended for praying files discrimination complaint

SEATTLE (AP) — 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, the Texas-based law firm that's representing coach Joe Kennedy, says he filed the complaint Tuesday with the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

It alleges the 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.