American Atheists to Protest Bradford County, FL Decalogue on May 19

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:
Dave Silverman, President 732-648-9333
Blair Scott, Communications Director 256-701-6265
Bridget Gaudette, Florida State Director 407-399-5808

ATHEISTS TO PROTEST BRADFORD COUNTY DECALOGUE ON MAY 19

American Atheists and separation of church and state supporters will be meeting May 19 from 11 AM to 2 PM at the Bradford County Courthouse in Florida to protest their Ten Commandments monument.

On May 3, 2012, on the “National Day of Prayer”, a Ten Commandments memorial was unveiled at the Bradford County Courthouse in Starke, Florida. The large, granite monument is clearly displayed on government property for all visitors to see.

American Atheists view this as a clear violation of the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment to our constitution, namely, that “Congress shall make no law respecting an establishment of religion.” The establishment clause has generally been interpreted to prohibit preference by the U.S. government of one religion over another in addition to not establishing a state religion. The Ten Commandments monument shows preference to Judeo-Christian faiths and essentially dismisses other religious philosophies and the beliefs of non-theists.

In 2006, in the Florida county of Dixie, an exact replica of the Ten Commandments monument seen in Starke was built atop the Courthouse steps. Last year a federal court ruled that it had to be removed because the “location and permanent nature of the display make it clear to all reasonable observers that Dixie County chooses to be associated with the message being conveyed.

In response, American Atheists along with other Floridian Freethought groups are organizing a demonstration in opposition to this 6-ton religious etching remaining on government property. Separation of church/state supporters will be meeting on May 19th, 2012 from 11 AM until about 2 PM at the Bradford County Courthouse. If you have any questions, please contact Bridget Gaudette at [email protected] or at 407.399.5808.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a non-profit 501(c)3 national organization that defends civil rights of atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church-mosque-temple and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.
PO Box 158
Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402