Godless Americans March on Washington
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The Godless Americans March on Washington (GAMOW) occurred in Washington, DC on November 2, 2002 with the participation of many atheists, freethinkers, agnostics and humanists.
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[edit] Timeline of the event
The event started at 11:00 A.M. near the Washington Monument, led by the American Atheist's banner promoting the separation of church and state. About halfway down the Mall the people were confronted by counter-protesters. However, the people continued to proceed to the other end of the Mall in front of the Capitol. At 11:30 A.M., the rally started and featured over 20 speakers and musical entertainment. The rally lasted for about 4 hours.[1]
[edit] Slogans
The event was marked by many slogans and banners on shirts, badges, etc. A few of the slogans include "What Our Schools Need is a Moment of Science!", "Atheism is Myth-Understood!", "Secular Humanists for a Secular America.", "Citizen - Atheist -Patriot.".[1]
The official T-shirt for the march showed a picture of the Capitol and the American Flag with the statement: "Free, Proud and on the Move - GODLESS AMERICANS."[1]
[edit] Speeches
Many speakers delivered speeches at the March. A few noted speakers were Frank Zindler, editor of the American Atheist magazine, Margaret Downey of the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia and Ed Buckner, executive director of the Council for Secular Humanism, etc.( see Event Speakers The speeches delivered were basically on theism, atheism and related themes. Ed Buckner is reported to have attacked on the way theists think of the lack of morality of atheists.[1]
[edit] Aims and Objectives
The event was reported as including over two thousand atheists, freethinkers, agnostics and humanists in a mile-long parade down The Mall to rally for several causes, including:
- civil rights
- church-state separation
- a greater voice in the national political process
Ellen Johnson, president of American Atheists and director of the Godless Americans March On Washington Task Force announced at the event the formation of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee.
[edit] Event speakers
Speakers at the event included:
- Michael Newdow, activist;
- Ed Buckner, Executive Director of the Council for Secular Humanism;
- Taslima Nasrin, Bangladesh feminist and dissident writer;
- Eddie Tabash, California attorney;
- Douglas Campbell, Green Party candidate for Governor of Michigan;
- August Brunsman, Secular Student Alliance founder;
- Michael Rivers, Director of American Atheists in Utah;
- Kathleen Johnson, Founder of the Military Association of Atheists & Freethinkers (MAAF), which provided security at the event;
- Norm Allen, from the African Americans for Humanism;
- Larry Darby, from the Alabama Atheists;
- Bobbie Kirkhart from the Atheist Alliance International;
- Margaret Downey from the Freethought Society of Greater Philadelphia [1];
- Jim Strayer, from the Atheists of Florida [2];
- John Scalise, from the Great Lakes Humanists [3];
- Harry Greenberger from the New Orleans Secular Humanists [4]; and
- "Reverend" Chris Harper of the fictitious Landover Baptist Church (also known as Americhrist Ltd.)
