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Atheists Lose: Judge Says WTC Cross Can Be At 9/11 Museum

Ben Yakas

Published Mar 30, 2013

Modified Mar 30, 2013

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Ben Yakas

Published Mar 30, 2013

Modified Mar 30, 2013

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It's been awhile since we heard an update about the lawsuit atheists filed against the 9/11 Memorial and Museum over the establishment's decision to include the so-called "9/11 cross." But yesterday, a Manhattan judge tossed out the lawsuit by the American Atheists, arguing that the artifact could help tell the story of 9/11. “No reasonable observer would view the artifact as endorsing Christianity,” wrote Judge Deborah A. Batts. “The cross does not create excessive entanglement between the state and religion.”

The cross is made of two beams found in the wreckage of the World Trade Center after the September 11, 2001 attacks. Judge Batts agreed with the museums rationale, writing that the cross' purpose there is “historical and secular,” and that the accompanying panels of text helped “demonstrate how those at ground zero coped with the devastation they witnessed,” justifying their inclusion.

American Atheists Inc. said in their lawsuit, "The WTC cross has become a Christian icon. It has been blessed by so-called holy men and presented as a reminder that their god, who couldn't be bothered to stop the Muslim terrorists or prevent 3,000 people from being killed in his name, cared only enough to bestow upon us some rubble that resembles a cross. It's a truly ridiculous assertion. It will just be a Christian icon, in the middle of OUR museum. This will not happen without a fight."

Edwin F. Kagin, a lawyer for the atheists group, told AP the group would appeal the decision: “Naturally, we don’t like the ruling and we think it’s incorrect,” he said. “For anyone to think this is not a religious symbol being moved for religious reasons into the World Trade Center museum is incredible.”

Tagged

9/11

9/11 cross

9/11 memorial

atheists

lawsuit

september 11 2001 attacks

world trade center

wtc

Ben Yakas

Ben Yakas is a former Gothamist reporter.

Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations

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