American Atheists

Infobox_Company
company_name = American Atheists
company_
caption = The American Atheists logo, based on the atomic model. Officially, the letter 'A' in the middle stands for America, commonly used to refer to the United States. It would, in theory, change for expansion into other countries. The open-ended vertical orbital signifies that not all is known yet.
company_type = Non-profit organization
foundation = 1963, Austin, Texas, U.S.
location = Parsippany-Troy Hills, New Jersey
key_people = Ed Buckner, President
industry = Education
num_employees =
products =
revenue =
net_income =
homepage = [http://www.atheists.org/ www.atheists.org]

American Atheists is an organization in the United States dedicated to defending the civil liberties of atheists and advocating for the complete separation of church and state.cite news | url=http://www.atheists.org/visitors.center/about.html | title=About: American Atheists | publisher=American Atheists |year= 2006| first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27] It provides speakers for colleges, universities, clubs and the news media as well as publishing books and the monthly "American Atheist Magazine". [Homepage of the [http://www.atheists.org/aam/ American Atheist Magazine] ] [ [http://worldcat.org/wcpa/ow/70f112d084f480bf.html Entry] for 'The American atheist' at World Cat.]

Origin and early legal action

Founded in 1963 by Madalyn Murray O'Hair as the Society of Separationists, American Atheists was the result of the legal cases "Abington School District v. Schempp" and "Murray v. Curlett" (1959) which were later consolidated. Both "Abington" and "Murray" challenged mandatory prayer in public schools. Over the years American Atheists has filed numerous lawsuits against public institutions it considers to have breached the wall of separation between church and state. The organization, which has approximately 2,200 members, is headquartered in Cranford, New Jersey.

In 1959, Murray filed a case on behalf of her son, William J. Murray, who was being forced to attend bible readings in school and was being harassed by teachers and school administrators for refusing to participate.

The consolidated case, usually cited as "Abington School District v. Schempp" (although, arguably, "Murray v. Curlett" became the more famous of the two,) was argued before the United States Supreme Court on February 27 and February 28, 1963. [cite news | url=http://www.atheists.org/publicschools/court.case.html | title=Court Case: Murray vs. Curlett | publisher=American Atheists |year= 2006| first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27] In her opening statement, Madalyn Murray said, in part,"An atheist loves himself and his fellow man instead of a god. An atheist thinks that heaven is something for which we should work for now — here on earth — for all men together to enjoy."

The justices rendered their decision on June 17, 1963. It was in favor of the petitioners, 8-1. They ruled that state-mandated prayer and unison bible readings in public schools were a violation of the Establishment Clause in the First Amendment to the United States Constitution. Justice Potter Stewart was the sole dissenter.

Johnson's leadership

On August 27, 1995, Madalyn, Jon, and Robin O'Hair disappeared from the organization's former Austin, Texas headquarters. Ellen Johnson, a second-generation atheist, assumed control of American Atheists shortly after the disappearance. [cite news | url=http://www.atheists.org/welcome.html | title=Welcome from the President of American Atheists | publisher=American Atheists |year= 2006| first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27] It was later revealed that the three were robbed and murdered by an ex-convict.

On November 2, 2002, at the Godless Americans March on Washington, Johnson was one of the featured speakers. [cite news | url=http://godlessamericans.org/gamow.shtml | title=Godless Americans Rally on DC Mall | publisher=Godless Americans |year= 2007 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27] In November 2005 the Godless Americans Political Action Committee (GAMPAC), a PAC to endorse political candidates who support the separation of church and state was formed. [cite news | url=http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/09/14/AR2007091402199.html | title=In America, Nonbelievers Find Strength in Numbers | publisher=Washington Post |date= 2007-09-15 | first=Jacqueline | last= Salmon | accessdate =2007-09-27] Subsequently, atheists have become more outspoken about being an ignored voice in the United States. [Sam Harris. "10 myths -- and 10 truths -- about atheism," "Los Angeles Times", December 24, 2006.]

In 2002 American Atheists took Wildwood, Florida to court for "displaying religious decorations at City Hall." [Kristina Henderson, "Florida atheists challenge angels on lawn of City Hall, Mayor suggests if someone is offended, ignore display", "Washington Times", December 5, 2002"]

In 2004 the group held the 30th annual national convention of the American Atheists. [William Booth, "True Non-Believers: In California, One Convention So Over God," "Washington Post", April 12, 2004] The convention attracted several best-selling atheist authors and leaders from several other secular organizations. [William Booth, "True Non-Believers: In California, One Convention So Over God," "Washington Post", April 12, 2004]

In July 2006 Lt. Gen. H. Steven Blum, chief of the National Guard Bureau, said in an interview that, "Agnostics, atheists and bigots suddenly lose all that when their life is on the line." In response Master Sgt. Kathleen Johnson, who founded the Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers and served in Iraq, said that was "a denial of our contributions" and "A lot of people manage to serve without having to call on a higher power." [Rebecca Phillips, "Beliefwatch: Foxholes," "Newsweek"August 21, 2006] American Atheists helped organize a campaign against the "no Atheists in foxholes" claim. [cite news | url=http://www.atheists.org/action/alert-05-apr-2006.html | title=NBC, Couric and Today Show Need to Hear From You | publisher=American Atheists |date= 2006-04-05 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27] The logo of the American Atheists is an allowed "emblem of belief" approved by the US Department of Veterans Affairs "for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers" [ [http://www.cem.va.gov/cem/hm/hmemb.asp Available Emblems of Belief for Placement on Government Headstones and Markers] , United States Department of Veterans Affairs]

In May 2007 ABC News featured a report on discrimination the Smalkowski family suffered from government officials in Hardesty, Oklahoma.cite news | url=http://abcnews.go.com/2020/Story?id=3164811&page=1 | title=Atheists in a town of Believers | publisher=ABC News |date= 2007-05-11 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27] The report included information about an ongoing lawsuit, which was filed by American Atheists on behalf of the Smalkowski family. The lawsuit alleges the Hardesty Public School District violated Nicole Smalkowski's constitutional rights. [cite news | url=http://www.atheists.org/legal/Smalkowski/Complaint%20Actually%20Filed%20In%20Federal%20Court%2011%20Aug%202006.pdf | title=Chester Smalkowski, Nadia Smalkowski, American Atheists v. Hardesty Public School District | publisher=American Atheists |date= August 2006 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27|format=PDF] Also in May, Joe Zamecki organized a national demonstration against the National Day of Prayer, in contrast to the celebration of prayer by many Christians in America on the day. ["Atheists go on the political offensive in God-fearing US," "The Sunday Telegraph", May 6, 2007]

An announcement posted on the organization's blog on May 2, 2008 stated that Johnson was leaving the presidency of American Atheists for unspecified reasons. It was later revealed that her removal was not voluntary. [ [http://www.atheists.org/nogodblog/index.php/2008/05/07/special_official_statement_re_ellen_john Announcement at NoGod blog] ] Frank Zindler was named acting president. On September 18, 2008, it was announced that Ed Buckner had been named the new president of the organization. [ [http://www.atheists.org/ftpfiles/Press_Releases/20080918.txt Press Release, September 18, 2008] ]

Court cases

American Atheists have won several important cases involving the separation of church and state, and currently have many ongoing lawsuits. [cite news | url=http://www.atheists.org/legal/ | title=American Atheists Lawsuits | publisher=American Atheists |year= 2006| first= | last= | accessdate =2007-09-27]

*"Murray v. Curlett" (1963) Challenged Bible reading and prayer recitation in Maryland public schools.
*"Murray v. United States" (1964) To force the Federal Communications Commission to extend the Fairness Doctrine so that Atheists could have equal time with religion on radio and television.
*"Murray v. Nixon" (1970) Challenged weekly religious services in the White House.
*"O'Hair v. Paine" (1971) Challenged NASA's religious use of the space program to require astronauts to read the Bible during a space flight.
*"O'Hair v. Cooke" (1977) Challenged the opening prayer at city council meetings in Austin, Texas.
*"O'Hair v. Blumenthal" (1978) Challenged the inclusion of the phrase "In God We Trust" on U.S. currency.
*"O'Hair v. Hill" (1978) To have removed from the Texas constitution a provision requiring a belief in god of persons holding offices of public trust.
*"O'Hair v. Andrus" (1979) Challenged the use of National Park facilities for the pope to hold a Roman Catholic mass on the Mall in Washington, D.C..
*"O'Hair v. Clements" (1980) This case tried to remove the nativity scene displayed in the rotunda of the capitol building in Austin, Texas.
*"Steel Crosses on Utah Highways" (2005) [http://www.atheists.org/legal/UHPCrosses-NOVEMBER-30-2005.PDF]
*"Society of Separationists vs. Pleasant Grove" (2004)
*"American Atheists vs. Starke, Florida".(2005) [http://www.atheists.org/legal/Starkbrief9_05.pdf]
*"American Atheists, Inc., and Steve Walker vs. City of Detroit, City of Detroit Downtown Development Authority, and Detroit Economic Growth Corporation."
*"Clyde Baxley, Grace Brown, Edward Byford, Bill Jager, Al Sundquist, James Woolever, Arlen Acharias, and Dorothy Anne Zappa Vs. State of Alaska".
*"American Atheists Inc., Mark W. Butler v. The City of Jacksonville, Florida" (2006) (Sued for the city's tax-funded "Faith Day") [cite news | url=http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/090206/met_4784112.shtml | title=Atheists file lawsuit over Day of Faith | publisher=Florida Times-Union |date= 2006-09-02 | first= | last= | accessdate =2007-10-27]
*"Chester Smalkowski, Nadia Smalkowski, American Atheists v. Hardesty Public School District, The County Of Texas County, Oklahoma, The Town Of Hardesty, Oklahoma." (Filed August 2006) [http://www.atheists.org/legal/Smalkowski/Complaint%20Actually%20Filed%20In%20Federal%20Court%2011%20Aug%202006.pdf]
*"American Atheists Inc., Lon Bevill, v. City Of Stark, Florida." (2007) [http://www.atheists.org/legal/Stark/Order%20Granting%20Plaintiffs%20SJ%2020%20March%202007.pdf]

Presidents

ee also

* A Secular Humanist Declaration
* Charles E. Stevens American Atheist Library and Archives
* List of secularist organizations
* Godless Americans March on Washington
* Secular Student Alliance

References

External links

* [http://www.atheists.org/ American Atheists] – Official website
* [http://www.godlessamericans.org/ Godless Americans PAC] – Official website