In a never-ending fight against Christians, atheists have secured a victory at the Bradford County Courthouse in northern Florida.
The American Atheists unveil a new monument—the first atheist monument in the U.S. to be on government property—later this month. A 1,500-pound granite bench engraved with quotes from Thomas Jefferson, Madalyn Murray O’Hair, Benjamin Franklin and others will sit adjacent to an existing monument featuring the Ten Commandments, a gift from the Community Men’s Fellowship.
The American Atheists’ display at the courthouse in Starke, Fla., will include the organization’s name and website, as well as Bible verses on punishments for breaking the Ten Commandments. According to a mediated settlement agreement, it cannot be libelous, pornographic or obscene.
The atheist organization filed a lawsuit last year for the removal of the Ten Commandments monument, citing separation of religion and government because the monument is on government land. The parties eventually reached a settlement allowing the atheist group to erect its own monument.
“This issue was won on the basis of this being a free speech issue,” Community Men’s Fellowship wrote on its Facebook page in March, “so don’t be alarmed when the American Atheists want to erect their own sign or monument. It’s their right. As for us, we will continue to honor the Lord and that’s what matters.”
American Atheists’ President David Silverman says, “We have maintained from the beginning that the Ten Commandments doesn’t belong on government property. … But if keeping it there means we have the right to install our own monument, then installing our own is exactly what we’ll do.”
The group’s monument will be unveiled on June 29.
“When it comes to government and religion, there are only two ways to show equality: all or none,” explains Ken Loukinen, regional operations director of American Atheists.
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