American Atheists object to WTC cross - ask for equal treatment [View All]

Monday American Atheists filed a complaint with the state of New York asking for fair and equal treatment by the National September 11 Memorial and Museum. Atheists ask that if the World Trade Center (WTC) cross be included in the National 9/11 Memorial and Museum, a memorial to the Godless should be included as well.

American Atheists argue that inclusion of the cross and the exclusion of representations suitable to non-Christians constitutes "a violation of the First and Fourteenth Amendments to the Constitution of the United States, and is in violation of Sections 3 and 11 of the Constitution of the State of New York."

American Atheists have repeatedly offered to fund a suitable memorial to atheists, freethinkers and other non-religious victims of the 9/11 terrorist attack, yet all such offers have been ignored. Hence the lawsuit. Atheists are asking that either the cross be removed from the memorial, or equal space be granted to a memorial for atheists, freethinkers and the non-religious.

Over 50% of the National September 11 Memorial and Museum is being funded by tax dollars. Many feel that to single out Christians for special recognition while ignoring the hundreds of victims who were not Christian is wrong. Many feel that Christians do not deserve or merit special treatment, and non-Christians do not deserve to be treated as second class citizens.

http://www.examiner.com/humanist-in-national/american-atheists-object-to-wtc-cross-ask-for-equal-treatment#ixzz1TAKOI5k9

Full complaint below:

http://atheists.org/upload/WTC_Complaint.pdf