Houston, TX—American Atheists filed a federal lawsuit today in the U.S. District Court for the Southern District of Texas, alleging that a high school senior has been subjected to years of harassment by teachers, administrators, and other students because she opted to not participate in the Pledge of Allegiance. The…...
Atheist Groups Demand Schools Protect Students’ Free Speech Rights, Cease Unconstitutional Pre-Game Prayers
Cranford, NJ—American Atheists today joined with attorneys and leaders from five other national atheist and secular groups to demand that Bossier Parish Schools immediately rescind a policy permitting schools to punish students who kneel during the playing of the national anthem before sporting events, and also that the district end…...
Threat Against Anthem Protesters Puts Louisiana Superintendent in Hot Water
Cranford, NJ—American Atheists today sent a demand letter to Bossier Parish Schools (Louisiana) Superintendent Scott Smith, shown above, demanding that he retract a district policy highlighted by national news coverage that requires student athletes to stand for the National Anthem or face discipline....
Statement from American Atheists President on Jeff Mateer Judicial Nomination
Cranford, NJ—In response to statements made in 2015 by President Donald Trump’s nominee to the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas, Jeff Mateer, American Atheists president David Silverman released the following statement: In Jeff Mateer, President Trump has nominated a person to the federal bench whose statements…...
American Atheists Warns Arkansas Schools: Reject ‘In God We Trust’ Displays
Cranford, NJ—Today, in response to a new law that requires Arkansas school districts to post signs that read, “In God We Trust” in all classrooms, the American Atheists Legal Center sent a letter to all 262 Arkansas superintendents reminding them of their obligations under the United States Constitution and of…...
Atheists File Answer to Motions to Dismiss in Forced Baptism Lawsuit
Cleveland, OH—American Atheists Monday filed a response to the defendants’ motions to dismiss in a lawsuit in U.S. District Court that alleges a developmentally disabled child was forcibly baptized against the expressed wishes of his parents by a minister and a court-approved mentor. The child, referred to as “V” in…...
Atheists Warn Kentucky Schools About Potentially Unconstitutional Bible Classes
Frankfort, KY—American Atheists today sent a letter to the Kentucky Commissioner of Education reminding him of the state’s obligations under the U.S. Constitution to discuss religion only in an academic context despite the recently enacted “Religious Literacy Law” which allows the teaching of religion and the use of the Bible…...
