Atheism Is Patriotic Banner to Fly Over NYC July 4

(Atheism Is Patriotic? Why yes... it is!)

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

03JUL2012: FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

For more information, please contact:
Dave Silverman, President 908-276-7300 X5
Teresa MacBain, Public Relations Director 908-276-7300 X7
Blair Scott, Director of Outreach 256-701-6265

AMERICAN ATHEISTS TO FLY “ATHEISM IS PATRIOTIC” BANNER OVER NYC ON JULY 4TH

American Atheists announced today that they will be flying a banner over New York City on July 4th. The banner behind the airplane will read, “Atheism Is Patriotic – atheists.org.”

Dave Silverman, President, said, “In 2011, American Atheists attempted to fly a banner in all fifty states on July 4th, but ran into discrimination from companies that refused to fly the banner. This year we are concentrating on New York City where the most powerful symbol of American freedom resides: the Statue of Liberty.”

Mr. Silverman continued, “Religion is unpatriotic at its core, because it places its law above the law of the land. Indeed, religion abhors civil law, which is why we see attacks against science and privacy coming from our religious politicians. Religion asserts itself on the population at large by infiltrating the political system with true believers who will then use the political system to do the church's bidding.”

Blair Scott, Director of Outreach, noted, “The banner will begin flying at 7:30 PM with plenty of light left and will fly over the Verrazano Bridge, then circle the entire New York Harbor, then up the Hudson to the George Washington Bridge, then south again to circle around the Statue of Liberty. After the Statue of Liberty the pilot will return to the Verrazano Bridge and finally fly west along the Staten Island Shoreline.”

Mr. Scott continued, “We are asking atheists to take a picture of the banner adjacent to NYC landmarks such as the Statue of Liberty, Freedom Tower, Empire State Building, etc. One photo will be chosen as the cover of an upcoming American Atheist Magazine and the selected photographer will receive a free one-year membership with American Atheists.”

Teresa MacBain, Public Relations Director, stated, “As a pastor I often reminded my congregants that 'God's law was higher than man's law.’ What that really meant was that the people should take orders from the church, above our civil government. Atheism, being the absence of any religious beliefs, implies that human law alone is supreme over humanity. Here in America, the highest law is in Washington DC, not some fictional heaven. That's patriotic.”

Silverman concluded, "I ask all citizens to remember that the separation of church and state benefits everyone, except the preachers and the politicians in their pockets. Religious equality only comes from Government neutrality. Celebrate your Independence."

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.
P.O. Box 158 Cranford, N.J. 07016
Tel: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402

(Atheism Is Patriotic? Why yes... it is!)