Atheists Sue Michigan Mayor Who Barred Their Booth

City Hall in the Detroit suburb of Warren, Michigan has included a "prayer station" for years, but when Douglas Marshall, the local member of the Freedom From Religion Foundation, asked to erect an adjacent atheist "reason station," Mayor Jim Fouts said that he wouldn't allow the atheists to denigrate prayer any more than he would allow the Nazis or Ku Klux Klan to do so.

“Everybody is welcome, but nobody is welcome who is out to disparage another group. . . . [It's] another continuing saga by a group of people who, in my opinion, promote conflict rather than resolution and understanding.”
-- Mayor Jim Fouts

For background, read of the myriad atheist lawsuits against Christians and prayer nationwide.

Click headlines below to read previous articles:

Atheists Attack Christian Kids Club in Portland, Oregon

FDR's D-Day Prayer is Un-American, Say Atheists

President Obama Provokes Second 'In God We Trust' Movement

Atheists, secular humanists, totalitarians etc. feel they are "on the ropes" after a recent series of Supreme Court rulings favoring religious liberty, reinvigorating Christian citizenship.

In addition, read Atheists Told, Army Will Support Day of Prayer and also read Sheriff Defies ACLU: July 4th Prayer in Louisiana as well as Texas Mayor Declares 2014 as the 'Year of the Bible'

-- From "Rejected atheist booth in Mich. city hall draws lawsuit" by Alix Watson, Associated Press 7/24/14

The city doesn’t endorse the “prayer station,” but has allowed religious groups to set up tables in the atrium for several years, according to Fouts.

“They don’t walk up to people,” Fouts said. “They are just there if someone wishes to seek solace or guidance from them. The atheist station does not serve that purpose. It will not contribute to community values or helping an individual out.”

In December 2011, Warren prohibited the Madison, Wisconsin-based Freedom from Religion Foundation from displaying an anti-religion sign next to a nativity scene at City Hall. A federal judge later ruled Fouts had authority to bar the poster because he felt it was antagonistic and would cause hostility.

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

From "Warren atheist sues to set up alternative to prayer station at city hall" by Christina Hall, Detroit Free Press Staff Writer 7/23/14

The lawsuit against Fouts and the city was filed in U.S. District Court by the American Civil Liberties Union, Americans United for Separation of Church and State and Freedom From Religion Foundation on behalf of Marshall.

In his [denial] letter, Fouts said Freedom From Religion is not a religion, has no tenets and no congregation.

“To my way of thinking, your group is strictly an anti-religion group intending to deprive all organized religions of their constitutional freedoms or at least discourage the practice of religion. The City of Warren cannot allow this,” he wrote, underlining the last sentence.

The proposed sign [by Marshall] would have read: “There are no gods, no devils, no angels, No heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but Myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.”

To read the entire article above, CLICK HERE.

Also read New Mexico Museum Seeks Atheists, Slams Christians