Knoxville, TN—During a hearing today in U.S. District Court of Eastern Tennessee, Senior District Court Judge Thomas Phillips asked the lawyer for Bradley County Sheriff Eric Watson to explain how the sheriff appearing in uniform and espousing his religious beliefs didn’t represent the county....
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…...
Atheists Win Motion in Florida 10 Commandments Lawsuit
Levy County, FL—The lawsuit challenging the placement of a Ten Commandments monument on the courthouse yard in Levy County, Florida, is being allowed to move forward, a United States District Court Judge ruled. American Atheists and members of a local atheist group filed suit in June 2015 when Levy County…...
Santa Says ‘Just Skip Church’ in Atheists’ Holiday Billboards
Cranford, NJ—Continuing a holiday season tradition, American Atheists has launched a series of billboards in the Winston-Salem, North Carolina area and in Colorado Springs, Colorado featuring Santa Claus urging viewers to go ahead and skip church and simply be good for goodness’ sake. “We want people to know that going…...