VICTORY for American Atheists! Supreme Court Declines to Hear Utah Cross Case

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

For more information, please contact:
Dave Silverman, President 732-648-9333
Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director 859-380-3427
Blair Scott, Communications Director 256-701-6265

ATHEIST ACTIVISTS APPLAUD SUPREME COURT DECISION TO NOT HEAR UTAH CROSS CASE

An Atheist civil rights group announced today that it is applauding the United State Supreme Court’s decision to not hear the Utah cross case after the Court of Appeal for the 10th Circuit ruled against the state in the case.

American Atheists, along with several Utah plaintiffs sued to remove twelve large steel crosses erected by the State of Utah to honor fallen troopers. Edwin Kagin, the National Legal Director for American Atheists stated, “We have presented this case and won at the 10th Circuit Court of Appeal. The Supreme Court correctly declined to review the case further, therefore the decision stands. We are looking forward to the state of Utah upholding the opinion of the Court of Appeal and removing the crosses.”

Dave Silverman, President of American Atheists noted, “We have no problem with honoring fallen troopers: they should be honored. Erecting divisive religious icons that violate the very constitution the fallen troopers had sworn to uphold is not the way to honor those troopers who gave the ultimate sacrifice for the citizens of their state.”

“It is our hope,” added Mr. Silverman, “now that the appeals process is over and the courts have found the crosses unconstitutional that the State of Utah will find a more honorable and non-divisive way to honor their fallen troopers. The fallen troopers, their loved ones and the citizens they swore to protect deserve such recognition.”

Edwin Kagin, the National Legal Director for American Atheists commented on why Christians should support the decision, “The attitude that the cross is not a Christian symbol should be repugnant to all of those believers who believe it to be a sign of the son of god having died on a cross to save everyone who believed in him and that, as he conquered death, so will those who believe this story conquer death. That is what the crosses are to them.”

READ MORE about this case
Attorney's Press release
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AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for Atheists, Freethinkers and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of church-mosque-temple and state; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

IN THE NEWS!
(We'll keep posting the ones we find! Find one we didn't? Let us know!)

CNN: Justices turn aside appeal over highway crosses
Seattle PI: Supreme Court avoids dispute over highway crosses
WISN: Justices Turn Aside Appeal Over Highway Crosses
ABC4, Salt Lake: High court avoids dispute over highway crosses
Scranton Examiner: American Atheists successful in Utah State Highway Patrol case
OpposingViews: Atheists Declare Victory in Utah Cross Case
Washington Times: Appeal denied on highway crosses in Utah
The Examiner: Court decides against hearing roadside crosses case
Washington Post: Supreme Court won’t wade into roadside crosses fight
Syracuse.Com: Supreme Court refuses to hear appeal of Utah crosses for fallen police
FOX New York: Supreme Court Turns Down Utah Roadside Cross Case
Deseret News: U.S. Supreme Court declines to hear Utah highway crosses case
Salt Lake Tribune: Crosses for fallen UHP officers must be removed
KSL: Supreme Court won't hear Utah highway crosses case
FOX 13 (SLC): High court avoids dispute over highway crosses

Comments

Anonymous (not verified) / Mon, 10/31/2011 - 07:55

Excellent news that should be shared far and wide!

Keeping church and state separate protects all folks, religious and non-religious alike.

Thanks for the diligence and great work!

Steve Schlicht and Family

Anonymous (not verified) / Mon, 10/31/2011 - 11:01

Now, lets see if it actually gets moved.

Anonymous (not verified) / Mon, 10/31/2011 - 16:43

Now, if only the pesky day of prayer, "under God" line, and restoration of our original motto on our money thingies got addressed in such a manner =|

At least this should prove to be a step in that direction. Awesome news.

Anonymous (not verified) / Wed, 11/23/2011 - 14:16

I believe in a higher power but do not necessarily subscribe to organized religion. I have to agree with this decision based on the cross being specific to one kind of religion. Not even looking at this as a church/state seperation issue there are many soldiers of religions that the cross does not have any affiliation.

Anonymous (not verified) / Wed, 12/14/2011 - 20:52

THAT IS NOT FAIR. Here is a much better proposal.

I believe every state should have a special fund that is there just for the families of fallen troopers. This fund would be from donations from good Americans and would be used to erect crosses, or any other religious AND non religious ornaments by families who WISH to do so. That way you are not depriving families who WANT a cross to honor there loved one. So, if you say the government can't do something, and the government is trying to do it for American families, then we HAVE to be fair. That is unAmerican to prevent something someone else wants. My fund proposal will eliminate all of that. The fund would be run by a private third party and would operate on donations. This fund would allow families that were poor or unable, to erect the monument of THEIR CHOICE.

For example, if there are 7 fallen troopers and 3 of the troopers families want a nice statue of a trooper in full dress uniform, 2 want a Statue of Buddha, 1 wants a antique ford roadster (because thats what the fallen trooper loved) and 1 wants a cross, the fund will pay for it all. That leaves Government out of the deal. That way you let the people decide for themselves.

There will be of course a cap on how much a family can spend. The fund would be responsible for contacting families and finding out what they want. I don't have time to explain it all now because I am still working on all the details. I didn't realize how much was involved when I first had this idea. I encourage everyone else to consider something like this. I do know one thing, I would have the monument I wanted for my fallen loved ones. It's ok the state is trying to honor fallen heroes, but I think the state should do it expressly through the fallen troopers families. This would also effectively eliminate the Utah state/cross problem and leave you to battle much more important issues.

Awesome idea huh? Then you keep church out of the state by letting the families decide what they want. And EVERYONE is happy. Well....there is always gonna be someone who is gonna disagree, it's human nature.