JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – An atheist nonprofit group filed a complaint in federal court Friday against Bradford County, saying a monument of the Ten Commandments on the courthouse lawn violates the U.S. Constitution.
The Florida state director of the organization American Atheists said the county is showing "preference to Judeo-Christian religions and dismissing other religious and non-religious philosophies and beliefs" by placing the tablets on the government building.
"Equality is an all-or-nothing prospect. The government is not allowed to sponsor one religious position and ignore all others. Even Christians have to obey the law,” said Dave Silverman, president of American Atheists.
A similar monument in nearby Dixie County was already deemed unconstitutional and is on appeal.