After reading both the US Supreme Court’s majority opinion and the dissent in the Town of Greece v. Galloway on Monday about prayers before city council meetings, I was faced with an irrevocable truth–not one of the justices gets it. Is “tradition” really a good reason to support a bad…...
Atheists File Federal Lawsuit to Remove Christian Monument at OK State Capitol
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Monday Jan 13, 2014 Text of the lawsuit is available here. Oklahoma City, OK—American Atheists filed a federal lawsuit on Monday against members of the Oklahoma State Capitol Preservation Commission for placing a 2,000-pound Ten Commandments monument at the north entrance of the Oklahoma State Capitol in…...
Atheists Go to Court Against IRS
Covington, KY—Oral arguments begin on Thursday at 10 AM CT in the case of American Atheists v. IRS. The nonprofit organization is suing the government tax-collection agency for discrimination, alleging that churches receive unconstitutional preferential treatment over other nonprofit organizations. If the suit succeeds, it could mean churches would then…...
Atheists Threaten Separation of Church & State Lawsuit Against Montgomery, Alabama
Cranford, NJ—American Atheists has dispatched a letter (see below) to the Hon. Todd Strange, Mayor of Montgomery, Alabama, and to Montgomery Police Chief Kevin Murphy alleging that the city’s “Operation Good Shepherd” is unconstitutional, demanding the program cease immediately. The letter arrives on Tuesday. The program uses volunteer Christian pastors…...
A major step toward marriage equality in New Jersey
Today is a landmark day for equality in American history: Superior Court Judge Mary Jacobson ordered state officials in New Jersey to begin officiating marriages for gay couples beginning October 21. Governor Chris Christie said he will appeal, all the way to the state’s Supreme Court if necessary. We’re not finished…...
NJ Commission Reverses Decision on Atheist License Plate
Cranford, NJ—As public backlash was growing, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission reversed its decision on Wednesday, approving American Atheists President David Silverman’s application for custom license plates reading “ATHE1ST.” American Atheists, which celebrates its 50th anniversary this year, is a national non-profit dedicated to fighting discrimination against atheists. On…...