[NYTr] Atheists support student protests of "god pledge"

[All the News That Doesn't Fit]

AMERICAN ATHEISTS, INC.
http://www.atheists.org
http://www.americanatheist.org

For more information, please contact:
Ellen Johnson, President (908) 276-7300
Dave Silverman, Communications Director (732) 648-9333

Oct 1, 2007

ATHEISTS SUPPORT STUDENT PROTESTS OF "GOD PLEDGE"
 
An Atheist civil rights group announced its support today for Boulder, 
Colorado high school students who are protesting the inclusion of the 
words "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance.
 
Students gathered on Thursday for a rally as the Pledge was read over 
their school's public address system.  Members of the Student Worker 
Club want school officials to hold the pledge in the school auditorium 
during lunch periods.  Protesters also intend to recite their own 
version which omits the reference to a god, and includes mention of 
constitutional rights.
 
The phrase "under God" was not part of the original pledge.  It was 
added in 1954 through an Act of Congress.
 
Ellen Johnson, President of American Atheists expressed support for the 
students.
 
 "The 'god' reference in our Pledge of Allegiance excludes millions of 
Atheists and other non-believers, and sends the message that they are 
not part of the American way of life," said Johnson.  "It is a
religious declaration and has no place in a society which values
individual freedom and the right of conscience."
 
Dave Silverman, Communications Director for American Atheists, said
that the 2004 Colorado law that requires schools to recite the pledge
does not require students to participate.
 
"The students are on firm legal ground here, and the U.S. Supreme Court 
has ruled that no one may be required to participate in the pledge 
ceremony," said Silverman. "But requiring certain students, including 
Atheists to simply remain silent while others recite the pledge isn't
an appropriate solution."
 
Silverman added that those who choose not to participate risk being 
singled out and made victims of peer pressure, disapproval and even 
violence.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a nationwide movement that defends civil rights
for Atheists; works for the total separation of church and state; and 
addresses issues of First Amendment public policy.

American Atheists, Inc.
P. O. Box 5733
Parsippany, NJ 07054-6733
Tel.: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402