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…...
Statement from American Atheists about Nomination of Judge Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court
Despite D.C. Circuit Chief Judge Garland’s almost 20 years as a federal judge, his positions on the separation of religion and government, religious exemptions, and on atheists’ equality need clarification. We therefore encourage the entire Senate to fulfill its constitutional duty and proceed with the confirmation process, including open and…...
Atheists’ ‘Right to Know Act’ Is Introduced in AZ Legislature
Phoenix, AZ—This week Arizona’s House of Representatives became the first legislative body to introduce the Patient’s Right to Know Act. Dr. Randall Friese, a trauma surgeon and professor of surgery at the University of Arizona College of Medicine, sponsored House Bill 2664. Dr. Friese represents District 9 and is the…...