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

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
OCT. 4, 2000

For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President    (973) 334-5110
Ron Barrier, Spokesperson   (718) 967-6453

           PROTEST AT OCTOBER 11 PRESIDENTIAL DEBATE SEEKS TO
           RAISE AWARENESS OF STATE-CHURCH SEPARATION ISSUES

    American Atheists, a nationwide civil rights and First Amendment public
policy organization, will hold a peaceful protest at the October 11
Presidential Debate slated for Wake Forest University in Winston-Salem, North
Carolina.
    The demonstration is part of the "Defending The Wall" Campaign which
included protests at the Philadelphia GOP Convention and the Los Angeles
Democratic Convention.  The October 11 action is planned during the
nationally televised debate between George W. Bush and Al Gore, scheduled to
take place at  Wake Forest University.
    "Our biggest reason for coming to the debate is to raise concerns over
the 'charitable choice' and faith-based partnership schemes which the
candidates of both major parties support," said Ellen Johnson, President of
American Atheists.  "While candidates differ slightly in the details, both
Gore and Bush support a bigger role for organized religion in the operation
of social services and other programs."
    Ms. Johnson added: "This compels millions of Americans, including
Atheists and other people who profess no religious beliefs, to open their
wallets and purses and pay what amounts to a 'religion tax' to subsidize
churches and other faith-based groups."  She noted that Gov. George Bush
takes his cue on First Amendment issues from Marvin Olasky, a University of
Texas professor who has suggested that perhaps the "disestablishment" of
religion (which ended public subsidies to churches) may have been a bad idea.
    "This is a serious threat to the separation of church and state, and both
candidates seem to be apologizing for this important First Amendment
principle which is a cornerstone in American society."
    Ron Barrier, National Spokesperson for American Atheists, warned that
opening the vault at the Treasury Department to religious groups "is both
unconstitutional and very dangerous public policy."
    "We talk about getting people off of the welfare treadmill, but the
candidates are talking about government programs to 'hook' churches on public
subsidies, and tax non-religious Americans and everyone else for it."

American Atheists, Inc.
P.O. Box 5733
Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402