NDR Media Coverage

Idaho Atheists Claim State Discriminates Against Them

by Scott Logan

BOISE - The National Day of Prayer observance has been held on the Idaho Statehouse steps at noon the first Thursday of May since 1988.

But this year, another group, Idaho Atheists, asked for -- and got -- permission to hold a an Idaho Day of Equality celebration at the exact same time and place.

The policy for using the statehouse steps is first come, first serve.

The atheists were first, but are now being told they cannot use the steps.

Statewide facilities manager Tim Mason says his office has routinely scheduled the national prayer observance for years but mistakenly left it off the calendar this time through a computer glitch and the mistake went unnoticed.

Although the prayer organizers offered to go inside the statehouse for their ceremony, Mason told them to use the steps as in the past.

"And first come, first serve in the way we administer that schedule is, somebody who's got a standing, recurring event at the same time and same day every year is first come, first serve," Mason told Local 2 News.

Mason also said he didn't think the statehouse rotunda could accommodate the four to five hundred people who traditionally attend the National Day of Prayer observance.

Susan Harrington, state director for American Atheists, declined comment but issued this statement: "Idaho Atheists are proceeding with a lawsuit. American Atheists are paying the legal expenses. The case is in the hands of our attorney."

And the American Civil Liberties Union says the atheists are being discriminated against.

"The policies are clear," said Jack Van Valkenburgh, executive director of the ACLU of Idaho. "It says first come first serve, there's nothing about a standing reservation. That was hindsight."

Mason says it has nothing to do with religion and he would have made the same decision no matter who was involved.

A spokeswoman for the local National Day of Prayer says the group would respect whatever decision the state makes.

Copyright 2005 Fisher Communications, Inc.

Original article available here.

This page contains copyrighted material the use of which has not always been specifically authorized by the copyright owner. We are making such material available in our efforts to advance understanding of Humanist issues. We believe this constitutes a 'fair use' of any such copyrighted material as provided for in section 107 of the US Copyright Law. In accordance with Title 17 U.S.C. Section 107, the material on this site is distributed without profit to those who have expressed a prior interest in receiving the included information for research and educational purposes. For more information go to: http://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/17/107.shtml. If you wish to use copyrighted material from this site for purposes of your own that go beyond 'fair use', you must obtain permission from the copyright owner.