Atheists settle with Freepers, no more taxpayer-funded prayer rallies

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AMERICAN ATHEISTS
January 24, 2007
http://www.atheists.org

ATHEIST GROUP, KAGIN WIN AGREEMENT FROM CITY TO AVOID
CHURCH-STATE ENTANGLEMENT

In a negotiated settlement, the City of Jacksonville, Florida agreed that in the future it will stay clear of taxpayer-funded activities that violate the First Amendment by fostering "excessive entanglement with religion."

The case, AMERICAN ATHEISTS, BUTLER v. CITY OF JACKSONVILLE, FLORIDA stemmed by a city-funded event known as "A Day of Faith, Arming Our Prayer Warriors" held on August 12, 2006. The religion-based event was promoted as a "rally against violence," and used municipal resources -- including free bus transportation -- to a tent-revival festival that included religious preaching and chanting by local ministers. American Atheists filed suit.

Read the story about this case at: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/012407/me...
There is addition background at http://www.atheists.org/flash.line/fla1.htm

Edwin Kagin, National Legal Director for American Atheists said that the settlement was a victory for all people concerned about the erosion of church-state separation protections.

(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.)

Lacking in background info AP story:

http://www.theledger.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/200...

Jacksonville agrees to settle atheists' lawsuit over faith rally

The Associated Press
JACKSONVILLE, Fla.
The city will pay an atheist group $5,000 in attorney fees and avoid holding religious events in the future in the settlement of a lawsuit over a day of faith rally.

The Aug. 12 rally was in response to a spiraling murder rate and the July 26 shooting death of 8-year-old Dreshawna Davis. Her slaying sparked community outrage and more aggressive measures to reduce the homicide rate.

The settlement reached Friday requires the city to write New Jersey-based American Atheists Inc. a letter saying it did not intend to violate the First Amendment and will warn department heads against funding programs that "foster excessive entanglements with religion."

Despite the settlement, Mayor John Peyton still defends the rally.

"I have no regrets - it was time well spent and money well spent," Peyton told The Florida Times-Union on Tuesday.

However, the city will do a better job of consulting municipal attorneys "to make sure we don't violate the separation of church and state," Peyton said.

Cindy Laquidara, chief deputy general counsel, said the settlement is not an admission the city violated the Constitution by financing the event. It simply ends a potentially costly federal lawsuit.

But Edward Kagin, American Atheists' lead attorney, called the settlement a victory for the organization and for all people concerned about the erosion of church-state separation.

About 6,000 people attended the rally that included Christian, Jewish and Muslim leaders.