David Niose has been the president of two major organizations, the American Humanist Association and the Secular Coalition for America. He currently serves as the AHA’s legal director. He’s also a lawyer who has argued in front of the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court about why the Pledge of Allegiance shouldn’t be recited in public school classrooms. And he’s the author of Nonbeliever Nation and Fighting Back the Right: Reclaiming America from the Attack on Reason.
We spoke with David about the legal issues affecting young atheists and how they should respond. Topics addressed include: Saying the Pledge of Allegiance, “See You at the Pole” events, religious choir music, science education, Gideons Bible giveaways, faith-based assemblies, and prayers at football games.
Notes:
If you need advice on handling Pledge of Allegiance issues, be sure to check out the AHA’s Don’t Say the Pledge website.
Also, if you see any potential church/state separation problems at your school, be sure to contact the AHA’s Appignani Humanist Legal Center, Americans United, Freedom From Religion Foundation, or American Atheists.