• Accessibility Tools
  • Action Headquarters
  • Media Center
    • Press Releases
    • Press Kit
    • All News

American Humanist Association

Advocating progressive values and equality for humanists, atheists, and freethinkers

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • About
    • About

      For over 80 years, the AHA has proudly served as the leading progressive voice in America on behalf of humanists, atheists, agnostics, and freethinkers.

      Learn More
    • Our Mission
    • Our History
    • Frequently Asked Questions
    • Board of Directors
    • Staff
    • Jobs & Internships
    • Financial Info and Reports
    • Contact Us
  • Are You Humanist?
    • Are You Humanist?

      Guided by reason, inspired by compassion, and informed by experience.

      Learn More
    • Definition of Humanism
    • Humanism and Its Aspirations
    • Humanist of the Year Award
    • Famous Humanists in History
  • Key Issues
    • Key Issues

      We are committed to building an inclusive America grounded in an embrace of reason, ethics, scientific inquiry, and compassion- rather than religious dogma.

      Learn More
    • Defending Nontheists and Promoting Humanism
    • Religion and Government Separation
    • Social Justice
    • Scientific Integrity
    • Promoting Peace
    • Resolutions and Statements
  • What We Do
    • What We Do

      We work tirelessly in courts, legislatures, and communities to defend civil liberties, secular governance, and scientific integrity.

      Learn More
    • Legal
    • Legislative
    • Education Center
    • Local Groups
    • Programs and Adjuncts
    • Publications
    • AHA at the Supreme Court
    • National Day of Reason
    • Boycott the Pledge Campaign
    • Humanist Disaster Recovery
    • Speakers Bureau
    • Humanism for All Prisoners’ Project
  • Get Involved
    • Get Involved

      Ready for change? Join our network and be the first to take action. Get the resources and tools you need to make a real difference.

      Learn More
    • Humanist Action Headquarters
    • Report a Violation or Discrimination
    • Find a Local AHA Group
    • Become a Humanist Celebrant
    • Events and Conferences
    • Grants and Programs
    • Resources
  • Ways to Give
    • Ways to Give

      Through winning lawsuits, active lobbying, and effective media campaigns, your contribution can go a long way.

      Learn More
    • Join
    • Renew
    • Donate
    • Online-Only Membership
    • Leave a Bequest
    • IRA Rollover Gifts
    • Other Ways to Give
  • Media Center
  • Take Action
February 19, 2014 Press Releases

Under God No Good for New Jersey School Students, Says Humanist Group

Facebook Twitter Email Share
February 19, 2014 Press Releases

Humanist Attorneys: Keep God out of daily patriotic exercises

For Immediate Release

Contact:
Maggie Ardiente, mardiente@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 x116
Monica Miller, mmiller@americanhumanist.org, 202-238-9088 x120

(Washington, DC—Feb. 19, 2014)—Daily school-sponsored recitation of the Pledge of Allegiance – declaring in a patriotic context to students that the nation is “under God” – is discriminatory toward atheist children and their families, a New Jersey public school system’s administrators are being told.  

A letter was sent today from the American Humanist Association’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center to David M. Healy, superintendent of schools for the Matawan-Aberdeen Regional School District in Monmouth County, stating that the practice “portray[s] God-belief as synonymous with patriotism, while portraying atheists as second-class citizens,” a violation of the New Jersey state constitution. “This exercise, conducted daily throughout the public school career of every student, instills an unfair and irrational anti-atheist prejudice in children, and we hereby demand that the school district immediately discontinue the practice,” the letter stipulates. The group said it is prepared to litigate if the practice continues.

“New Jersey’s constitution is clear that religion can’t be the basis for state-sponsored discrimination,” said Appignani Humanist Legal Center attorney Monica Miller. “No public school system should engage in an exercise that purposely tells atheist and humanist students that the only valid form of patriotism is one that includes god-belief.”

The letter suggests one option to resolve the unconstitutional behavior “would be to simply adopt the nondiscriminatory version of the pledge, used widely for many years, that did not include the ‘under God’ wording.” The phrase “under God” was added to the Pledge of Allegiance in 1954.

Administrators have been asked to reply within 30 days.

This case is similar to one awaiting a decision by the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court, Doe v. Acton-Boxborough Regional School District, in that it is based on a state’s constitutional equal rights protections, not the U.S. Constitution or other federal laws. The Massachusetts case is also being handled by the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.

# # #

Founded in 1941 and headquartered in Washington, DC, the American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other non-religious Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming philosophy of humanism, which—without beliefs in any gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.

Special thanks to the Louis J. Appignani Foundation for their support of the Appignani Humanist Legal Center.

More Press Releases

Latest news from TheHumanist.com

Subscribe Today

More Light Than Heat

Glenn Branch

Climate Change Lesson Sets from the National Center for Science Education (NCSE)

The National Center for Science Education

For Further Reading

Various Authors

Chapter Spotlight: HumanistsMN Leads Efforts to Combat Christian Nationalism in Minnesota

Suzanne Perry

Protecting Humanists at Risk: a Review of 2022

Emma Wadsworth-Jones
American Humanist Association
1821 Jefferson Place, NW
Washington, DC 20036
202-238-9088
800-837-3792 (toll-free)
202-238-9003 (fax)
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • YouTube
  • About the American Humanist Association
  • Are You Humanist?
  • What We Do
  • Key Issues
  • Board of Directors
  • Staff
  • Frequently Asked Questions
  • Get Involved
  • Report a Violation or Discrimination
  • Press Kit
  • Local Groups
  • Education Center
  • Become a Humanist Celebrant
  • Job and Internship Opportunities
  • Humanist Action Headquarters
  • Sign Up for AHA Emails
  • Privacy Policy
  • Records Policy
  • Site Map
  • Contact Us

©2023 American Humanist Association. All Rights Reserved.

Combined Federal CampaignIndependent Charities of AmericaCharity NavigatorCandid/Guidestar Platinum Seal of Transparency