Atheists' group condemns California mayor for hosting a prayer rally, claiming this was a constitutional violation

Stockton Mayor Anthony Silva (centre) leads a prayer rally. (Facebook/Anthony Silva)

A group of atheists has once again made an anti-Christian move by condemning the mayor of Stockton, California for hosting a prayer rally after a six-year-old girl was shot.

The American Humanist Association sent a letter to Mayor Anthony Silva on Nov. 19 asking him to stop "all promotion, sponsorship, endorsement or affiliation with Christian Life Center and any other religious organisation immediately."

It claimed that it sent the letter on behalf of a local citizen and member of the Stockton Area Atheists and Freethinkers "who expressed concern about a prayer rally sponsored by the city and mayor in violation of the Establishment Clause."

The atheists are accusing Silva of promoting prayer and religion by sponsoring a prayer rally last Nov. 16. At the rally, Silva presented the official key of the city to God.

The words "GOD we dedicate the City of Stockton to you! Mayor Silva 2015," were written on the key, according to AHA.

A "Mayor's Town Hall Meeting" is set for Nov. 30 at the Christian Life Center.

In the letter, atheist Monica Miller wrote, "This letter serves as a notice of the City and Mayor's unconstitutional activity and demands that you terminate all promotion, sponsorship, endorsement or affiliation with Christian Life Center and any other religious organisation immediately."

The group demanded "that you find a secular venue for the upcoming 'Town Hall Meeting' and that you refrain from using Christian venues for such events."

It ordered Silva to contact the atheist group "indicating that you will take the appropriate steps to remedy these clear constitutional violations, including by expressly renouncing any affiliation with or support of Christian Life Center and the 'Mayor's Prayer Rally.'"

"Mayors and other public officials cannot use the machinery of the state to push their religious agendas," Miller said. "Using the state to promote prayer violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment and alienates community members of minority faiths and of no faith."

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