American Atheists, Inc. at CPAC 2014, Press Releases

CPAC 2014 « American Atheists « Press Releases

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: Tuesday February 25, 2014

CPAC Boots Atheist Booth

Atheists: 'This Is Exactly the Problem'

Washington, DC—On Tuesday, American Atheists President David Silverman received a phone call from American Conservative Union Executive Director Dan Schneider informing him that the ACU board is breaking its agreement to permit American Atheists to host an information booth at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), March 6-8.

According to Silverman, Schneider cited “the tone” in the quote “The Christian right should be threatened by us.”, which was in a Tuesday CNN article, as the reason for the revocation. This reversal came just hours after a press release from American Atheists announcing the booth, one week before the conference.

Silverman repudiated Schneider’s assertion: “This is exactly the problem. The ACU, which has invited CPAC speakers such as Rush Limbaugh, Ann Coulter, and Sarah Palin, is afraid of my tone? My ‘tone’ was clearly an excuse to back out after our press release angered religious conservatives.”

“Continuing to conflate religion and conservatism is not a viable strategy; this was apparently too scary for CPAC attendees to hear,” Silverman said. “America’s religious conservatives can deny it all they want, but soon they’re going to realize that ignoring the growing number of atheist constituents is a losing proposition.”

In the weeks after American Atheists registered for CPAC, a member of the American Atheists board met with CPAC organizers to discuss CPAC 2015. “Our input was well-received and the atmosphere was positive. We suggested several atheist speakers for 2015 and welcomed the opportunity to engage about conservative issues,” Silverman said. American Atheists also planned a special promotion allowing anyone attending CPAC to sign up for a free one-year membership and a discount to the American Atheists National Convention, April 17-20 in Salt Lake City.

Silverman left the door open to reconciliation. “We still want to attend CPAC. If the ACU will invite us to exhibit as previously agreed, we will be there to talk about the importance of religious equality,” he said.

The CPAC conference comes just six weeks ahead of American Atheists’ own 40th National Convention, which will take place Easter weekend in Salt Lake City. The convention will feature such speakers such as former NFL punter Chris Kluwe, Survivor®: Philippines winner Denise Stapley, Grammy-nominated Spin Doctors bass player Mark White, Oscar-nominated director David A. Silverman, astrobiologist Dr. David Morrison, Reverend Barry Lynn of Americans United for the Separation of Church and State, Maryam Namazie of the Council of Ex-Muslims, popular bloggers PZ Myers and Greta Christina, and American Atheists President David Silverman. The convention will also feature a costume dinner, live music, stand-up comedy, an art show and silent auction, national and local exhibitors, and childcare options for attending families. The convention takes place the weekend of April 17-20, 2014.

AMERICAN ATHEISTS is a national 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that defends civil rights for atheists, freethinkers, and other nonbelievers; works for the total separation of religion and government; and addresses issues of First Amendment public policy. American Atheists was founded in 1963 by Madalyn Murray O’Hair.

American Atheists, Inc.
P.O. Box 158
Cranford, NJ 07016
Tel: (908) 276-7300
Fax: (908) 276-7402

Dave Muscato, Public Relations Director

Atheists March Into Lions’ Den at CPAC

Organization Confronts Conservatism's Religious Image

Washington, DC—On Tuesday, American Atheists announced it will sponsor an information booth at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC), the nation’s largest such annual gathering. Believed to be the first-ever atheist-sponsored CPAC booth, American Atheists leadership will be available to answer questions throughout the March 6–8 event at the Gaylord National Resort & Convention Center in National Harbor, Maryland. Upwards of 10,000 people are expected to attend. A special promotion will allow anyone attending the conference who visits the American Atheist booth to sign-up for a free 1-year membership.

“‘Conservative’ isn’t a synonym for ‘religious’,” said American Atheists President David Silverman. “In fact, a fifth of conservatives seldom or never pray, and the same number state religion is not important in their lives.”

“If conservatism doesn’t embrace religious neutrality, its influence will wither and die,” Silverman said. “Atheists are a growing constituency—an increasingly united constituency—and conservative legislators ignore our vote and our voice at their own peril. We demand equality and fairness—nothing more—which is the very foundation of American values. Imposing religious dogma on its citizens should not be the role of the small government advocated by conservatives.”

“We are the fastest-growing religious demographic in all 50 states, and our growth is coming in large part from young people,” said Public Relations Director Dave Muscato. “Twenty percent of Americans are not religious; this climbs to ⅓ for those born after 1980. Atheists are everywhere, including the conservative right, and elected officials who refuse to listen to atheists won’t remain in office for very long.”

American Atheists, Inc.

P.O. Box 158
Cranford, NJ 07016

Dave Muscato, Public Relations Director