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First Washington Lobbyist for Atheists to Describe Nonbelievers' Fight for Rights

The "Most Oppressed Minority in U.S."  Mounts Struggle To Be Treated Fairly

New York, Feb. 3, 2006--Lori Lipman Brown, the first-ever Congressional lobbyist for the nonreligious folk of the USA, will address New York City Atheists on February 26 in a bid to rouse local nonbelievers into strengthening the battle for their civil rights.

"In polite conversation in most places in the U.S., it is not O.K. to put down African Americans but it is O.K. to put down Atheists," she points out. "We're the only minority where it's still not impolite to tell us we're terrible, immoral people who should leave this nation."

She notes that "you had only to listen to the President's State of the Union address to realize that everything is 'God Bless America,' and 'if you're not one of us, you're not American.' The Religious Right pretty much has a hold on all three branches of government today.'"

To help her estimated 30 million constituents nationwide battle for their civil right to be godless, Lori Lipman Brown recently became the executive director of the Washington, D.C.-based Secular Coalition for America, an alliance of six groups of atheists, humanists and freethinkers. They include the American Humanist Association, Atheist Alliance International, the Institute for Humanist Studies, the Secular Student Alliance, Secular Web/Internet Infidels and the Society for Humanistic Judaism.

Brown, a lawyer who served in the Nevada state Senate from 1992 to 1994, is perhaps best known in that state for a stand she took on pre-session prayer. Her opponent, who charged in political ads that Brown had opposed prayer, won the election. Brown subsequently sued and won a non-monetary settlement.

Brown will speak to the NYCA at 12 noon on February 26, 2006 at the Garden Restaurant, 145 East 60th St., between Lexington and Third Avenues. Open to the public.

Media representatives who wish to attend please RSVP to NYCA at 212-330-6794.  Interviews with Lori Lipman Brown may be arranged by phoning NYCA's press officer at 212-879-2687 or emailing JaneEv9@aol.com.