New York City Atheists will sue 9/11’s "Seven in Heaven Way" street sign (VIDEO)
Elena Vnorovscaia / Chişinău / Moldova.ORG / -- To honor seven firefighters who died on 9/11, a portion of Richards street, Brooklyn, New York, was renamed "Seven in Heaven Way".
This new street sign prompted criticism and national attention from the country's atheists.
New York City Atheists say they’re prepared to go to court to have the sign taken down. NYC Atheists, as they claim, is an atheists group whose primary objective is the separation of church and state.
New York City Atheists, a group that opposes the public use of religious references, are poised to sue the City to get a name change. They say that the sign violates the separation of church and state in U.S.
"It's a whole conspiracy trying to prove we are a Christian nation and imprinting our culture and our vocabulary," complained Kenneth Bronstein, head of NYC Atheists.
“We’re supposed to be a secular nation - there really should not be any religious symbolism or signage in public places. We feel that any and all people who died in 9-11 should be remembered and honored. That’s not the problem”, he said.
Bronstein argues that the word “heaven” is a clear reference to Christianity because when people say a 9/11 first responder is "in heaven" they are specifically referring to the walled-in sky compound guarded by St. Peter.
Bronstein has contacted the city with his complaint and has proposed an alternative street name: “We Remember the 7-911”. “We are not against honoring those who died on 9/11, but we are arguing the word heaven should not be used. It has religious connotations," said Bronstein.
"That's nonsense,” said Anbriena Insausti, who lives in Manhattan. “The families should honor their loved ones anyway they want."
“This is not a matter of faltering patriotism or public ignorance, but rather an effort to promote secularism,” said the head of NYC Atheists. “We want [the sign] to be neutral. Anyone can believe whatever they want to believe.”
“We’ll die for the right to believe,” Mr. Bronstein continued. “Just don’t shove it down our throat.”
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