American Atheists, Inc.
P O Box 140195
Austin, Texas 78714-0195
(512) 458-1244
http://www.atheists.org


                           PRESS RELEASE

For immediate release:
March 26, 1997

                 ATHEISTS OPPOSE "FIRE SALE" TACTIC
               Cross should be "removed or demolished"

    AMERICAN ATHEISTS today called upon San Francisco officials to either
remove or demolish the Mt. Davidson cross, following last week's U.S.
Supreme Court decision to not hear an appeal on the constitutionality of
the religious monument.  That action lets stand a Court of Appeals ruling
that city ownership of the cross violates the constitutional principle of
state-church separation.  Since the high court's announcement, certain
officials, in collusion with religious groups, have been scrambling to
salvage the cross, possibly by selling the land to a "private" group.
    American Atheists warns that it will oppose any "fire sale" of the land
where the cross sits to any religious or historical group that has the
intention of keeping the structure at its present location.  Dave Kong,
California Director for American Atheists, accused officials of "trying to
do by indirect means what they know they cannot do by direct means, namely,
keep the cross at Mt. Davidson."
    "Giving or selling the land to some group that would then be the
technical owner is disingenuous and illegal," declared Mr. Kong.  He noted
that if the land is to be sold, "everybody - including businesses, private
individuals and even American Atheists - be permitted equal participation in
the competitive bidding process."
    Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists, said, "City officials
can't write up some sleazy sales agreement which stipulates that the new
owners can only keep the land with the cross on it as a "historical" or
religious display.  That's clearly favoring religion."
    "And does it really make any sense to have a parcel of land in the
middle of a public park, and then declare that it is suddenly "private"?
Everyone knows what's going on here; the religious coalition and the city
are trying to work out a backroom deal to keep the cross up and circumvent
the intent of the First Amendment's Establishment Clause."
    Ms. Johnson asked: "Where does this chicanery end?  Will governments end
up 'selling' slices of land in front of court houses and city halls where
religious groups will then be erecting nativity creches, menorahs or
prayer-line billboards because they 'own' the land?"
    Mr. Kong urged San Francisco officials to "do the right thing" and
demolish the cross, or sell it for scrap.  "Let's put this divisive thing
behind us," he asked.
For more information please contact:
Mr. David Kong, CA State Dir.   (415)771-9872    Email: dksf@atheists.org
Ms. Ellen Johnson, President    (201)334-4033    Email: ej@atheists.org
Mr. Ronald Barrier, NMC         (718)356-8658    Email: rbarrier@atheists.org