Godless Americans March on Washington
Encyclopedia
The Godless Americans March on Washington (GAMOW) occurred in Washington, DC on November 2, 2002 with the participation of many atheists, freethinkers, agnostics and humanists.
A few of the slogans include "What Our Schools Need is a Moment of Science!", "Atheism is Myth-Understood!", "Secular Humanists for a Secular America.", "Citizen - Atheist -Patriot.".
The official T-shirt for the march showed a picture of the Capitol and the American Flag with the statement: "Free, Proud and on the Move - GODLESS AMERICANS."
, atheism
and related themes. Ed Buckner is reported to have attacked on the way theists think of the lack of morality of atheists.
Ellen Johnson
, president of American Atheists
and director of the Godless Americans March On Washington Task Force announced at the event the formation of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee.
Timeline of the event
The event started at 11:00 A.M. near the Washington Monument, led by the American Atheist's banner promoting the separation of church and state. About halfway down the Mall the people were confronted by counter-protesters. However, the people continued to proceed to the other end of the Mall in front of the Capitol. At 11:30 A.M., the rally started and featured over 20 speakers and musical entertainment. The rally lasted for about 4 hours.Slogans
The event was marked by many slogans and banners on shirts, badges, etc.A few of the slogans include "What Our Schools Need is a Moment of Science!", "Atheism is Myth-Understood!", "Secular Humanists for a Secular America.", "Citizen - Atheist -Patriot.".
The official T-shirt for the march showed a picture of the Capitol and the American Flag with the statement: "Free, Proud and on the Move - GODLESS AMERICANS."
Speeches
Many speakers delivered speeches at the March. A few noted speakers were Frank Zindler, editor of the American Atheist magazine, Margaret Downey of the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia and Ed Buckner, executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism, etc.( see Event Speakers The speeches delivered were basically on theismTheism
Theism, in the broadest sense, is the belief that at least one deity exists.In a more specific sense, theism refers to a doctrine concerning the nature of a monotheistic God and God's relationship to the universe....
, atheism
Atheism
Atheism is, in a broad sense, the rejection of belief in the existence of deities. In a narrower sense, atheism is specifically the position that there are no deities...
and related themes. Ed Buckner is reported to have attacked on the way theists think of the lack of morality of atheists.
Aims and Objectives
The event was reported as including over two thousand atheists, freethinkers, agnostics and humanists in a mile-long parade down The Mall to rally for several causes, including:- civil rightsCivil rightsCivil and political rights are a class of rights that protect individuals' freedom from unwarranted infringement by governments and private organizations, and ensure one's ability to participate in the civil and political life of the state without discrimination or repression.Civil rights include...
- church-state separation
- a greater voice in the national political process
Ellen Johnson
Ellen Johnson
Ellen Johnson is an activist for atheist rights and the separation of church and state in the United States. She was president of American Atheists from 1995–2008.-Career:...
, president of American Atheists
American Atheists
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. It provides speakers for colleges, universities, clubs and the news media. It also publishes books and the monthly...
and director of the Godless Americans March On Washington Task Force announced at the event the formation of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee.
Event speakers
Speakers at the event included:- Michael NewdowMichael NewdowMichael Arthur Newdow is an American attorney and emergency medicine physician. He is best known for his efforts to have recitations of the current version of the Pledge of Allegiance in public schools in the United States declared unconstitutional because of its inclusion of the phrase "under God"...
, activist; - Ed Buckner, Executive Director of the Council for Secular HumanismCouncil for Secular HumanismThe Council for Secular Humanism is a secular humanist organization headquartered in Amherst, New York. In 1980 CODESH issued A Secular Humanist Declaration, an argument for and statement of belief in Democratic Secular Humanism...
; - Taslima NasrinTaslima NasrinTaslima Nasrin is a Bengali Bangladeshi ex-doctor turned author who has been living in exile since 1994. From a modest literary profile in the late 1980s, she rose to global fame by the end of the 20th century owing to her feminist views and her criticism of Islam in particular and of religion in...
, Bangladesh feministFeminismFeminism is a collection of movements aimed at defining, establishing, and defending equal political, economic, and social rights and equal opportunities for women. Its concepts overlap with those of women's rights...
and dissidentDissidentA dissident, broadly defined, is a person who actively challenges an established doctrine, policy, or institution. When dissidents unite for a common cause they often effect a dissident movement....
writer; - Eddie TabashEddie TabashEdward Tabash is an American lawyer and political and social activist. An atheist and a proponent of the Establishment Clause, Tabash has debated several Christian apologists, including Richard Swinburne, William Lane Craig, Matt Slick and Greg Bahnsen.Tabash is a member of the California State...
, California attorney; - Douglas CampbellDouglas Campbell (Michigan politician)Douglas Campbell is a two-time Green Party Candidate for Governor of Michigan and a 2008 candidate for the United States House of Representatives. In 2002 Campbell received 25,236 votes...
, Green PartyGreen Party (United States)The Green Party of the United States is a nationally recognized political party which officially formed in 1991. It is a voluntary association of state green parties. Prior to national formation, many state affiliates had already formed and were recognized by other state parties...
candidate for Governor of Michigan; - August Brunsman, Secular Student AllianceSecular Student AllianceThe Secular Student Alliance , founded in May 2000, is an independent, democratically structured organization in the U.S. that aims to serve the needs of freethinking high school and college students. The Secular Student Alliance is based in Columbus, Ohio...
founder; - Michael Rivers, Director of American AtheistsAmerican AtheistsAmerican 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. It provides speakers for colleges, universities, clubs and the news media. It also publishes books and the monthly...
in Utah; - Kathleen Johnson, Founder of the Military Association of Atheists & FreethinkersMilitary Association of Atheists & FreethinkersThe Military Association of Atheists and Freethinkers is an independent 501 project of the . It is organized as a community support network with the goal of connecting atheist, humanist, and freethinking personnel of the U.S...
(MAAF), which provided security at the event; - Norm Allen, from the African Americans for Humanism;
- Larry DarbyLarry DarbyLarry Darby is a practicing attorney in Montgomery, Alabama. He was runner-up candidate for Alabama Attorney-General in the 2006 Democratic Party Primary. Darby's campaign ran into controversy and gained momentum when he questioned the veracity and scale of the Holocaust.- Background and education...
, from the Alabama Atheists; - Bobbie Kirkhart from the Atheist Alliance InternationalAtheist Alliance InternationalAtheist Alliance International is a global network of atheist organisations around the world. AAI was founded in 1991.AAI's vision is "to transform society into one that understands and respects atheism; that supports and respects a worldview based on the values of reason, empiricism and...
; - Margaret DowneyMargaret DowneyMargaret Downey is an atheist activist who is the former President of Atheist Alliance International and founder and president of the Freethought Society...
from the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia http://www.fsgp.org; - Jim Strayer, from the Atheists of Florida http://www.atheistalliance.org/florida/;
- John Scalise, from the Great Lakes Humanists http://glhumanist.org/;
- Harry Greenberger from the New Orleans Secular Humanists http://nosha.secularhumanism.net/; and
- "Reverend" Chris Harper of the fictitious Landover Baptist ChurchLandover Baptist ChurchThe Landover Baptist Church is a fictional Baptist church based in the fictional town of Freehold, Iowa. The Landover Baptist web site and its associated Landoverbaptist.net Forum are a satire of fundamentalist Christianity and the Religious Right in the United States.-Origin:The site was created...
(also known as Americhrist Ltd.)