Cranford, NJ—On November 23, 2016 President-elect Donald Trump announced the selection of Betsy DeVos as his nominee for Secretary of Education. In response to this nomination, David Silverman, president of American Atheists, released the following statement:...
Atheists Call on Trump to Reject Divisive Religious Rhetoric, Policies
Cranford, NJ—On Nov. 8, with nearly 120 million votes cast, Donald Trump was elected the 45th President of the United States. At the same time, 34 Senate races and 435 House of Representatives races were decided across the nation. In response to these election results, David Silverman, president of American…...
Atheists Dismiss Lawsuit After City Rescinds $65,000 Grant to Baptists
Cranford, NJ—American Atheists announced today that is has dismissed its lawsuit against the City of Kansas City (Missouri) over a $65,000 grant that the city’s Neighborhoods Tourist Development Fund had awarded in April to Modest Miles Ministries for the 2016 National Baptist Convention in September. American Atheists sued based on…...
Atheists Sue PA House of Representatives Over Discriminatory Invocation Policy
Harrisburg, PA—American Atheists joined with Americans United for Separation of Church and State in filing a federal lawsuit today challenging a policy prohibiting atheists from offering invocations to open Pennsylvania House of Representatives sessions. The five individual plaintiffs in the case, including two members of Pennsylvania Nonbelievers, an American Atheists…...
Atheists Reach $41,000 Settlement with Tennessee County Sheriff
Chattanooga, TN—American Atheists and Bradley County and the Bradley County Sheriff’s Office have reached a settlement in a federal lawsuit alleging First Amendment violations of the U.S. Constitution by Bradley County and Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson. As part of settlement agreement, the new official Bradley County Sheriff’s Department Facebook…...
Atheists Sue Kansas City Over $65,000 Handout to Baptist Convention
Cranford, NJ—Today American Atheists and two Kansas City residents filed a complaint in federal court asking for a temporary and permanent injunction to prevent the City of Kansas City from giving $65,000 to Modest Miles Ministries, Inc. (Rev. Miles is shown above) for the National Baptist Convention to be held…...
New Plaintiff Joins Lawsuit Against TN Sheriff
Bradley County, TN—American Atheists today filed an amended complaint in the lawsuit challenging the unconstitutional actions of Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson, adding resident Joseph Stephens as a plaintiff in the case. American Atheists and an anonymous Bradley County resident, referred to in court documents as “Jane Doe” because she…...
Atheists Tell Florida Schools: Follow the Law on Pledge of Allegiance Issue
Cranford, NJ—American Atheists, in partnership with the Central Florida Freethought Community, has sent letters to each of Florida’s 67 county school districts advising them of their obligations to protect the rights of students who wish to opt out of participating in the Pledge of Allegiance. In September 2015, the American…...
Atheists Sue Tennessee Sheriff Over First Amendment Violations
Bradley County, TN—American Atheists along with a resident of Bradley County, Tennessee filed suit in federal district court in Eastern Tennessee today against Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson for violations of the First Amendment. The purpose of the suit is to stop the sheriff’s policy of censoring comments that are…...