"Mobilizing America's Nonbelievers for Political Activism"
News and Updates
NY State – Tax Break for Madrassas?
Tax breaks for those who send their children to Madrassas? Not in New York. Tell your NY State Senator and Assemblyman to stop this legislation.
Intelligent Design: It’s Not Even Wrong
Rep. Rush Holt (D-NJ), the only scientist (a physicist) in the U.S. House of Representatives stated he was appalled when President Bush signaled his support for the teaching of “intelligent design” alongside evolution in public K-12 science classes.
Read the attached article by Rep. Holt: Intelligent Design, It Is Not Even Wrong, posted on the TPMCafe Blog, 09/08/05.
Alert: Houses of Worship Free Speech Restoration Act of 2005
Please start at Issues Briefing — Added 10-March-2005.
Two Legislative Issues need your attention
Please start at Issues Briefing — Added 25-February-2005.
Stand on the Pledge spurs recall effort
New Article added December 14, 2004.
Ellen Johnson on Scarborough Country
Tuesday, November 9, 2004
Note: This was originally scheduled for November 8, but was moved due to breaking Iraq news.
Ellen Johnson, Executive Director of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee (GAMPAC) is a guest Tuesday, November 9, 2004 on the popular MSNBC program “Scarborough Country.”
Ms. Johnson will be discussing the recent national election and the role played by religious belief, along with William Donahue, President of the Catholic League.
A frequent guest on national media, Johnson is head of GAMPAC, a national initiative supporting Atheist and other nonbeliever candidates for public office. She served as Chairwoman of the Godless Americans March on Washington (GAMOW), which in November, 2002 brought together thousands of nonbelievers for an unprecedented display of unity in our nation's capital -- the first “Godless March on Washington.”
Tune in Tuesday, Nov 9, on MSNBC “Scarborough Country” airing nationwide, beginning at 10 PM Eastern. Check local listings.
WHO & WHAT: Ellen Johnson, GAMPAC Executive Director on the air tonight!
WHERE: Scarborough Country, MSNBC
WHEN: Tuesday, November 9, 2004 -- 10 PM Eastern, check local listings.
Godless Americans Group Announces Endorsement of Kerry-Edwards
July 14, 2004
Photo by
Sharon Farmer
A newly formed group encouraging political action on behalf of “Godless Americans” has announced that it is endorsing the Sen. John Kerry for president and Sen. John Edwards for vice president in the 2004 national elections.
Ellen Johnson, Executive Director of the Godless Americans Political Action Committee, said that the Kerry-Edwards slate was “the clear choice over President Bush, who has spent the last four years eroding the separation of church and state, ‘packing the courts’ with judges who ignore the First Amendment, and imposing a de-facto Religion Tax through the federal faith-based initiative.”
Johnson said that the PAC grew out of the November, 2002 Godless Americans March on Washington that brought thousands of nonbelievers to the nation’s capitol for a rally on the mall.
“There are nearly 30 million Americans who describe themselves as having no religion,” said
Johnson. “This includes Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists, Rationalists and others
who have little or no voice in our political process, and who are often ignored by the major political parties.”
“We intend to change that.”
Johnson pointed out that political hopefuls “go out of their way to court voters in churches, mosques and temples” and woo “religious blocs” of voters.
“It’s time for them to wake up and realize that there is another ‘bloc’ they have to start paying attention to, and this is secularists who believe in the separation of church and state, and are determined to stand up for their civil rights.”
Johnson said that the Kerry-Edwards slate was “the best alternative to four more years of George Bush and Pat Robertson running the country.”
(The GODLESS AMERICANS POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE (GAMPAC) is an educational and political initiative focusing on issues of concern to Atheists. The GAMPAC supports and endorses Atheist candidates for public office.)
June 22, 2004
Action Alert: Workplace Religious Freedom Act of 2003.
June 10, 2004
New article: Safe Harbor for Churches - Sneak provision in Job Creation Bill of 2004.
March 10, 2004
Ellen Johnson's Press Conference Remarks at the National Press Club now available in the articles section.
GODLESS AMERICANS
POLITICAL ACTION COMMITTEE
LAUNCHES TUESDAY, MARCH 9 AT
WASHINGTON, D.C. PRESS CONFERENCE
"The time is now!" says GAMPAC TASK FORCE Executive Director Ellen Johnson.
On Tuesday, March 9, 2004, the Godless Americans Political Action Committee (GAMPAC)
officially launches during a press conference in Washington, DC. Johnson, along
with Margaret Downey, Woody Kaplan others representing the GAMPAC Advisory Board,
along with Political Director Jeff Lewis, will deliver remarks and field media
questions concerning the goals and strategies of the new organization.
"Every other group you can think -- gun owners, gays, pharmaceutical companies, labor unions, teachers, doctors, religious groups -- they all have political committees and a presence in Washington allowing them to support candidates and legislation," said Johnson. "Now, Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and other nonbelievers have another alternative in giving voice to our concerns, and letting candidates for public office know that they must now start recognizing US as a potential force in American politics.
The idea behind GAMPAC came out of the November, 2002 Godless Americans March on
Washington. Over 3,000 nonbelievers marched on the National Mall, and assembled
in front of the U.S. Capitol Building for a program of speeches, including pleas
for political action.
Johnson told the crowd: "Today, it's politics 101."
GAMPAC will be a voice for nonbelievers "inside the beltway," promises Johnson.
The new group will monitor and take action on legislation concerning civil rights
and state-church separation. It will also work to inform its potential constituency
of over 30 million people who, according to the American Religious Identification
Survey, "identify with no religion," of issues affecting them.
And the PAC will track the legislative voting records of candidates for public office.
"We intend to 'grow" GAMPAC into a useful and effective vehicle for giving Atheists, Freethinkers, Humanists and other nonbelievers more of a say at the ballot box and in the halls of Congress and state legislatures," said Johnson. "Everyone else has a 'place at the table' in the democratic process. It's now our turn."
Press Release -- 8-March-2004
LAUNCH OF "GODLESS AMERICANS" PAC
TOMORROW AT NATIONAL PRESS CLUB
Tuesday, March 9, 2004 9:00 AM
MEDIA INVITED
The Godless Americans Political Action Committee (GAMPAC) will host a press conference on Tuesday, March 9, 2004 at 9:00 AM, the National Press Club in Washington, DC.
GAMPAC grew out of the historic Godless Americans March on Washington (November, 2002) which brought to the nation's capital thousands of Atheists, Freethinkers, Secular Humanists and other nonbelievers, for an unprecedented display of unity. GAMPAC will members of this diverse, secular community an alternative in having more of a voice in political and legislative affairs.
Media is invited.
WHAT: Launch of the "Godless Americans Political Action Committee"
WHEN: Tuesday, March 9, 2004 at 9:00 AM
WHERE: National Press Club, 529 14th St., NW, 13th Floor (Lisagor Room), Washington, DC