AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
Office of the Connecticut State Director
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.atheists.org/ct


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
DECEMBER 15, 2003

For more information, please contact:
Dennis Paul Himes, Connecticut State Director (860) 643-2919 dphimes@atheists.org

        ATHEIST CIVIL RIGHTS GROUP TO PROTEST MILFORD NATIVITY SCENE

American Atheists today announced that it will stage a demonstration at
11:00 a.m. on Sunday, December 19, in protest of the Christian nativity
scene being displayed on the green in the city of Milford, Connecticut.
The demonstration will be held on the sidewalk at the south side of the
green, near the nativity scene.

Dennis Paul Himes, the Connecticut State Director of American Atheists,
said, "The City of Milford has displayed nativity scenes at various
locations for many years.  Last year both Atheists and non-Christian
Theists complained to the city about its unconstitutional endorsement
of Christianity, but the city has chosen to repeat its endorsement this
year. The display of religious artifacts by the city of Milford is not
only unfair to its non-Christian citizenry, but forbidden by the
constitutions of both the United States of America and the State of
Connecticut. We will meet near the green to make it clear to Mayor
Richetelli that there are Americans who do not meekly accept the erosion
of our liberties."

"If the Mayor wishes to promote his personal religious beliefs he should
do it on his own property or at his church where the display would be
constitutional."

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights for
nonbelievers, works for the total separation of church and state, and
addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

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