American Atheists is making news in the typical way that freethought and skeptical groups do: negative press surrounding a state-church separation lawsuit. They are suing Jacksonville for holding a "Day of Faith" in which the city spent around $100K and held multiple religious programs centered around how to solve the city's homicide rate woes.
Check out the details surrounding the story from the AA blog here:
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The city estimated that 6,000 attended the two-hour rally at the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena. It featured a lineup of elected, civic and religious leaders who urged residents to pray and volunteer for mentoring and other programs they say could address the social factors behind murder and other forms of violence.________________
But some people and organizations complained about the rally, saying it was overtly religious in nature and represented an example of government promotion of faith.
American Atheists Inc. filed a motion in federal court in Jacksonville to stop the event. The judge rejected it, saying it was filed too late. Since then the organization said in court it will sue on behalf of taxpayers to recover the funds spent and to prevent the city from holding such an event again, said Edwin Kagin, national legal counsel for the New Jersey-based group.
According to documents provided Friday by Cindy Laquidara, the city's chief deputy general counsel, City Hall spent $9,180 on advertising, $6,856 for DVD and flier production and mailing, and $80,268 for expenses such as T-shirts for volunteers, an event logo, printing, bus service, events staff and video production. The latter amount includes $20,854 for venue charges.
Another $5,097 was spent on staff time dedicated to the event.
Kagin said American Atheists is taking action against the city because the Day of Faith was a prayer service financed by taxpayers."The city has no business being in the religion business," he said.
A Day of Faith: Arming Our Prayer Warriors featured short sermons by several Christian ministers, prayers and religious music. One Muslim and one Jewish leader also participated.
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