Atheists Threaten Lawsuit Over 9/11 "Seven In Heaven" Street Sign

(From right to left: Sen. Velmanette Montgomery [in hat], Councilwoman Sara M. González, Borough President Marty Markowitz and Captain Mike Kendall applaud as street sign is unveiled while families and firefighters look on.)

Local atheists say they're considering suing the city over a new street sign in Red Hook that honors firefighters who died on 9/11. The change was made after winning approval from Community Board 6 and the City Council, and at a ceremony last month, part of Richards Street was renamed "Seven in Heaven Way"—atheists be damned. At the time, a spokesperson for City Councilmember Sara González told us, "There are any number of streets named after religious figures, like Sister Mary Franciscus Way [in Sunset Park]? Should we not honor these people because the community chooses to call them the Seven in Heaven?" But it looks like the city is messing with the wrong atheists, and may have to fend off a lawsuit from these heathens!

Ken Bronstein, head of NYC Atheists, tells the Daily News, "We are not against honoring anyone who died or served on 9/11. What we're against is the use of the word 'heaven,' which is a religious concept. The Founding Fathers set up separation of church and state. We need to draw a line in the sand. This is not a Christian nation. This is a republic." And if the atheists let the government cross this line, who knows what's next? Forcing our children to pledge their allegiance to the flag "under God" every morning?

Bronstein says the groups' attorneys are "mulling" a lawsuit to force the sign's removal, and families of the fallen firefighters are revolted. "We weren't even able to recover my brother's remains. These little things like a sign is all we have left," Ralph Gullickson tells the News. "How dare these people try to take it away from us. He didn't go in there that day and ask people what their religion [was] or whether they believed in God. He just went to save people."

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By John Del Signore in News on July 6, 2011 11:28 AM

Comments [rss]

Amanda

I so desperately wish that people would get it through their heads that Separation of Church and State means that the USA cannot choose a single religion and call it the "official" religion of the nation. It does notmean that religion, in any way shape or form, should be completely eradicated from public, private AND governmental life.

Fenrir_Lokison

BINGO! This is one smart cookie here.

Common Atheist

That street sign to an atheist is like "Satan Ave" or "Bible Nonsense Pkway" or "Heaven Is For Fools Blvd." to a Christian. Now do you understand why it's a big deal? When your religious beliefs are offended, you get your panties in a bunch and raise a big stink about it. When an atheist's beliefs are offended, you describe it as whining and say they having nothing better to do. Okay there, Mr. Hypocrite. Let's change the street you live on to "Piss On Your Bible Ave." and see how you like it.

Fenrir_Lokison

There is a difference, you propose names that are DIRECTLY meant to offend and disrespect someone's belief.

To be honest, I think Christians who do cry about such things instead of rejoice how God's word continue to be proven by such people like atheists are whiners...I personally don't take atheists as offensive, I just see them as sad, just plan ole, sad.

Sulayman

" These little things like a sign is all we have left,"
Not really. The city gave you a sign after losing so much. I don't quite like that argument.

Luke Kavenagh

From the NYC Atheists facebook page:

‎(1) There is little chance of any suit about this.(2) The tempest started when the papers called Ken Bronstein (president of NYC-Atheists) and David Silverman (president of American Atheists) asking for a comment on the sign. It was the media, not the Atheists that started this. We did not even know about it until the Brooklyn Paper called us!‎(3) It is true that no one should be promoting religious messages with public money. The idea that "heros go to heaven" is a religious message. "Remember the Seven from 9/11" would have been a better message.(4) We all have better things to do with our time and money than argue about this.

Jake polhemus

I see a spider. Its an invisable talking spider that only I can see and hear. It tells me that it created the universe and everything in it. It tells me all these stories of how it did it and about the miracles and beliefs of what this spider, the creator of the universe, is right and wrong. I write it all down into a big book, and make a church. I wonder if alot of people will go to it? Probably not, because its silly. Most people would look at me and think im insane for believing in an invisable talking spider that created the universe. Why is god any different?

Joey__Blow

That sign is like a big green penis stabbing me in the eye! ow ow ow! my eye!

felixthecat

so tired of all these street renaming.

rj falcioni jr

dude - a line in the sand? over a sign for 7 fdny guys who died on 9/11 - wtf is this the big lebowski - ill personally hit this fruit in the dome piece w/ that same sign if he actually sues the city over this. im down w/ separation of church and state but i think we got A LOT bigger problems then this sign going on in nyc

Guest

Sorry, Gothamist, for leaving a comment that differs from your beliefs and opinions. I'll post it again, anyway. A fucking street name has neither positively nor negatively effected anyone in the world ever. Stop choosing to feel offended every time you see a fucking religious word. There are far greater evils religious people are doing to shit on our freedoms that you should be worried about. Text on a sign is not one of them, shitdicks.

Guest

Sorry but the word is "affected".

Guest

Whooopsydaisy. I made a boo boo. Die.

Nadine Barrett

I paid $32.67 for a XBOX 360 and my mom got a 17 inch Toshiba laptop for $94.83 being delivered to our house tomorrow by FedEX. I will never again pay expensive retail prices at stores. I even sold a 46 inch HDTV to my boss for $650 and it only cost me $52.78 to get. Here is the website we using to get all this stuff, LiveCent.com

Guest

To believe is to be a fool.

FU Boy

I believe a flower is pretty.

Am I a fool to believe that?

Guest

Flowers actually exist.

Amanda

To ridicule those who do believe is to show the world just how narrow your views are.

Kevin B. Walker

Atheists (and I am one) need to do a much better job of picking their battles. This is a total waste of resources over a trivial infraction and will do nothing to advance our cause in the eyes of our countrymen. We need to focus on serious encroachments of religion on our government and civil liberties.

rj falcioni jr

well said kevin - all this serves to do is give a bad name to your cause. i believe in separation not an atheist but this isnt the 10 commandments in a court room in kentucky