NEW YORK, July 27 (Reuters) - A national atheist
organization has filed a lawsuit asking a judge to order the
removal of the cross that is on display at the National
September 11 Memorial & Museum in New York.
The cross is made of steel girders that were pulled, in
that shape, from the ruins of the World Trade Center days after
the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. American Atheists Inc. insists
that the cross, a religious symbol that has been blessed by a
priest, violates their rights under the state and federal
constitutions, according to the complaint filed Wednesday in
Supreme Court in Manhattan.
Spokespersons for the Port Authority of New York and New
Jersey and for New Jersey Governor Chris Christie, both
defendants in the case, declined to comment. A spokesperson for
the city's Law Department declined comment until they have an
opportunity to review the complaint. Mayor Michael Bloomberg
and the museum are also named as defendants.
In a statement, 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels said
the museum's mission is to tell the history of Sept. 11 through
historic artifacts such as the cross.
"This steel remnant became a symbol of spiritual comfort
for the thousands of recovery workers who toiled at ground
zero, as well as for people around the world. In the historical
exhibition, the cross is part of our commitment to bring back
the authentic physical reminders that tell the story of 9/11 in
a way nothing else can," Daniels said in the statement.
The museum will also house other religious symbols,
including a Star of David that was cut from a piece of steel
recovered at the site, and a Jewish prayer shawl donated by a
family, according to the memorial organization.
The plaintiffs claim they offered repeatedly to pay for a
memorial to represent the approximately 500 non-religious
victims of the attack on the World Trade Center, but never
received a response.
In a press release, American Atheists president Dave
Silverman said the atheists and all other religious
philosophies must be allowed to include their own display of
equal size inside the museum, or the memorial organization must
omit the cross.
"Equality is an all-or-nothing deal," Silverman said.
The case is American Atheists Inc. et al v. Port Authority
of New York and New Jersey, et al, New York Supreme Court, New
York County, No. 108670-2011.
For American Atheists: Danielle Mathey of Mathey Law Office
and Edwin Kagin, national legal director for American Atheists.
(Reporting by Jennifer Golson)