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Atheists of Florida unites a community of activists to uphold the complete and absolute separation of church and state.

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Recent Activism

Atheists File Suit Against Lakeland

Monday, July 12, 2010: Atheists of Florida filed a lawsuit against the City of Lakeland in United States District Court in Tampa, Florida, demanding an end to the practice of government sponsored prayer rituals held at the start of city commission meetings.

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See PDF of lawsuit

Please help us pay for ongoing legal expenses associated with this lawsuit. Every dollar helps. All donations to Atheists of Florida are tax deductible. Thank you for your help.

A copy of the official registration and financial information may be obtained from the Division of Consumer Services by calling toll-free (800) 435-7352 within the state. Registration does not imply endorsement, approval, or recommendation by the state. Registration number CH6936

New Billboards

Atheists of Florida has placed five new billboards in the Lakeland area to celebrate the Independence Day season. Each declares: "One nation, indivisible" against the backdrop of an American flag, recognizing the original phrase used in the Pledge of Allegiance before a religious doctrine was inserted in 1954. This original phrasing does not artificially divide the country along religious lines, and recognizes the equal value of all citizens, regardless of what they may or may not happen to believe about religious dogmas and doctrines.

See map of locations and photos

Donate to Atheists of Florida Billboard Fund

Meet the Atheists in Pinellas Park

Members of the public encountered their atheist neighbors during a special Q&A panel discussion to be held on Saturday, June 19, at 2:00 p.m. in the Pinellas Park Public Library. The event went very well, and we will post an audio record of it soon.

Beginning in April 2010, Atheists of Florida members and others have demanded that the Pinellas Park City Council stop the establishment of a special religious preferences for the Christian religion, as demonstrated by official Christian prayers to start public meetings and a Christian Bible on display in conjunction with the mayor's gavel.

One of our goals is to help people learn why atheists (among others) are concerned about this entanglement of religion and government. After brief introductory statements from the host and panelists, questions and comments were taken from the audience.

Rob Curry hosted. Panelists were: Ed Golly, EllenBeth Wachs, Tracy Thomas, Gina Harvey, and John Kieffer.

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Atheist Family Defended: Tampa School Halts Graduation Prayers

Acting swiftly on a parent’s concern about prayers that were to be included in her son’s high school graduation ceremony, Atheists of Florida successfully negotiated with Hillsborough County school officials to compel them to comply with laws prohibiting such religious rituals at school events.

On Wednesday, May 19, the parent contacted the atheist organization when she learned that Alonso High School principle, Louis Diaz, would disregard her appeal to remove the invocation from the graduation program. Following discussions the next day between Atheists of Florida attorney and school officials, Mr. Diaz reversed his position.

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Pinellas Park City Council Warned Over Government Prayer

Responding to complaints from Pinellas Park citizens about the mayor using a Bible as a prop during public city council meetings, Atheists of Florida members appeared and spoke at the April 22 meeting.

Governor Crist Insults Atheists of Florida Member in St Petersburg

Michael Middlebrooks, a graduate student at the University of South Florida, noticed the Governor at an informal campaign event Friday night, March 5, in downtown St, Petersburg. He decided to participate by joining the line to shake hands and ask questions. While in line, he received a "Charlie Crist for US Senate 2010" sticker from a staffer who placed it on his clothing. After shaking the Governor's hand, however, what should have been a pleasant exchange turned into a verbal attack on an atheist for no reason other than his own self-identified worldview, by none other than the chief executive officer of the state himself!

Read open letter from Atheists of Florida President John Kieffer to Governor Charlie Crist.

Tampa City Councilman Tells Atheists to Shut Up

On March 4, Councilman Caetano attempted to create an incident by blaming atheists for supposedly disrupting Council business simply because they do not say the words "under god" when reciting the pledge of allegiance. In an unexpected break from the usual procedure, Tampa City Council attorney Martin Shelby warned the public after the meeting was called to order (but before the usual unconstitutional government prayer) to respect the right of others to say the pledge with the two religious words added to it in 1954. Caetano added that he wanted people removed if they did not recite the pledge the way he demands.

Atheists of Florida Executive Director Rob Curry, present at this meeting, stood for the pledge and recited it without apology exactly as he has for years: " . . . one nation, indivisible . . ." and noted that this did not prevent anyone else from reciting it as they prefer. That afternoon, he asked the Council if they intend to employ "Pledge Police" in an effort to enforce an unreasonable demand that everyone recite the exact same words in crisp, military precision. Caetano had left earlier in the day, and no other Council members appeared to have any interest in supporting his morning outburst.

It is the position of Atheists of Florida that each citizen should be free to decide if he or she wishes to participate in the pledge of allegiance, and (if so) how he or she feels most comfortable in saying it. This was not and is not related to our concern over official Council prayers. Any attempt to frame it in terms of a supposed disruption is rejected as an obviously contrived attempt to censor free speech which never has and never will disturb any Council business.

Lakeland City Commission Hears Atheists

EllenBeth Wachs, director of our Lakeland chapter, was joined by Executive Drector Rob Curry at the March 1, 2010, Lakeland City Commission meeting. They raised powerful objections to official government prayer at these public meetings, and began the process of raising the awareness of local politicians and the community at large on issues surrounding state/church separation.

This is especially needed in locales like Lakeland where many atheists feel pressured to conform insincerely to religious rituals, or else risk facing the wrath of intolerant public officials or neighbors who often attack and demonize atheists. No citizen should ever be put into such a position by their own local government.

See the press release.

Read or add comments.

Tampa Atheists Comment Despite City Council Objections

Atheists of Florida officers and members followed up on civil rights concerns brought before the Tampa City Council two weeks ago, when there was no response whatsoever. This time was different.

The gavel banged. "You are out of order, sir!"

The St. Petersburg Times report bears the headline: Atheists object again to Tampa City Council prayer

New Officers Elected at Annual Board Meeting

The state board of directors for Atheists of Florida held its annual meeting on Sunday, January 31, 2010. Among other business, the following officers were elected to serve approximately one year terms until the next board meeting:

President: John Kieffer
Vice President: Steve Brown
Secretary: Tracy Thomas
Treasurer: Nan Owens
Chairman of the Board: Ed Golly

In addition, the board approved a paid executive director position, and the new president made this appointment effective Monday, February 1:

Executive Director: Rob Curry

Helping Hands Bring Hope to Tampa Bay

Secular Organizations for Sobriety (SOS) is an alternative recovery method for those alcoholics or drug addicts who are uncomfortable with the spiritual content of widely available 12-Step programs. SOS takes a reasonable, secular approach to recovery and maintains that sobriety is a separate issue from religion or spirituality. SOS credits the individual for achieving and maintaining his or her own sobriety, without reliance on any "Higher Power."

Atheists of Florida is in partnership with SOS Tampa Bay. Meetings on the last Wednesday of each month are open to all.

Find out more.

Tampa City Council Confronted

Several members of the public spoke up before the Tampa City Council to express their deeply felt concerns about how government prayer is incredibly disrespectful towards atheists, and has the practical effect of coercion against a group with minority views on religion. Several Council members appeared shocked that anyone might feel that prayer is not only offensive, but also a potentially coercive abuse of power when done in the name of city government.

The St. Petersburg Times report on this story bears the headline: Speakers blast Tampa City Council over opening prayers.

Non-Believers Giving Aid

Atheists of Florida encourages its members and others who seek to donate to relief efforts in Haiti to review the option of Non-Believers Giving Aid. This promotes practical, secular assistance, and 100% of your donation will go to help.

City Invocations Must Stop

Atheists of Florida (past) president Rob Curry has advised City of Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio that official prayer is not the proper role of city government:

"In the name of fairness and respect for every Tampa citizen," Curry wrote, "I ask that you encourage the Tampa City Council to abolish the unconstitutional practice of city-sponsored invocations. They should return to the proper business of government, refocusing their energy on the secular duties they were elected to perform."

Click here to see the entire letter.

Atheists of Florida is headquartered in Tampa, representing members both locally and around the state. On Tuesday, January 12, copies of our letter to Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio were also handed over to Catherine Jones in the office of the Tampa City Council for distribution to all Council members.

Atheists who wish to conduct business at City Council meetings have no good choices when there is government-sponsored prayer: Either pretend to be religious, or be true to your worldview and risk discrimination.