Humanists Celebrate National Day of Reason in the House of Representatives
For Immediate Release
Contact:
Sarah Henry, (202) 238-9088, shenry@americanhumanist.org
(Washington D.C., May 2, 2019) –American Humanist Association members cheer yesterday evening’s introduction of U.S. House Resolution 344 recognizing May 2, 2019, as the National Day of Reason. The resolution was introduced by Representative Jamie Raskin (D-MD). Co-sponsors of the resolution include Rep. Jared Huffman (D-CA), Rep. Eleanor Holmes-Norton (D-DC).
The National Day of Reason is spearheaded by the American Humanist Association. While the National Day of Prayer is recognized annually by a presidential proclamation encouraging Americans to pray, it excludes the millions of Americans who don’t pray, but wish to recognize and celebrate our shared American values. Today’s National Day of Reason resolution provides an inclusive alternate to the National Day of Prayer that encourages public policy based on verifiable facts and logic, recognizing that Americans of all faiths and philosophies can celebrate reason and science.
“A new embrace of the value of reason is needed in today’s America more than ever before,” noted Roy Speckhardt, executive director of the American Humanist Association. “We encourage public servants to bring empathy and sound reasoning to their deliberations and work to protect the freedoms and civil rights of all Americans.”
The resolution notes that “reason provides vital hope today for confronting the environmental crises of our day, including the civilizational emergency of climate change, and for cultivating the rule of law, democratic institutions, justice and peace among nations.”
Efforts to introduce National Day of Reason resolutions and proclamations at the state and local levels are ongoing. Humanist communities across the country will celebrate the National Day of Reason with lectures, rallies, community service, and more.
Learn more about the National Day of Reason here.
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The American Humanist Association (AHA) works to protect the rights of humanists, atheists, and other nontheistic Americans. The AHA advances the ethical and life-affirming worldview of humanism, which—without beliefs in gods or other supernatural forces—encourages individuals to live informed and meaningful lives that aspire to the greater good of humanity.