Council Won’t Build Atheism Monument

Wed., Aug. 20, 1997

Associated Press

A proposal to erect a monument to atheism in front of city hall was unanimously rejected by the City Council with little discussion and no comments from the audience.

Daniel Foster of Caldwell, Idaho, director of American Atheists Inc., did not attend Monday’s meeting but said Tuesday that he was unhappy with the council’s decision and may pursue the issue further.

Foster had asked the city to erect a monument to atheism that is equal in prominence to the Ten Commandments monument at city hall, calling the existing monument a “breach of separation of state and church.”

City Council members said they would not erect an atheist monument, but would place other statements adjacent to the Ten Commandments to indicate the display is not meant to endorse any particular religious belief.

“I don’t know about that,” Foster said. “That’s something I’ll have to look into.”

He said he would contact American Atheists’ national leadership to determine a future plan of action.

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