AN astonishing attack has been launched on Illinois atheist Rob Sherman by State Representative Monique Davis, a member of Trinity United Church of Christ, who said his atheism represented ” danger to children”.
Davis’ hysterical outburst occurred when Sherman testified before an Illinois legislative committee against Governor Blagojevich’s plan to donate one million tax dollars to Pilgrim Baptist Church in Chicago. He insisted that the donation was unconstitutional. Said Sherman on his blog:
Representative Monique Davis responded for the committee. She accused me of hating god. She said that the state should donate the million tax dollars to Pilgrim Baptist Church because the people of Illinois believe that there is a god.
At a time when we are in the midst of a decades-long pervasive epidemic of Roman Catholic priests raping America’s children, Representative Davis said that I was a danger to the children of Illinois because I tell them that there is no god.
She said that I had no right to inform children of that perspective. She then ordered me out of the witness chair, screaming, repeatedly, ‘Get out of that seat’, because I’m an atheist. Made me feel like Rosa Parks, who also was told, ‘Get out of that seat’, and arrested when she didn’t give up her seat on the bus to Whitey.
Now that Negroes like Representative Monique Davis have political power, it seems that they have no problem at all with discrimination, just as long as it isn’t them who are being discriminated against. On the 40th anniversary, today, of his murder, I’m sure that my boyhood hero, the Reverend Dr Martin Luther King, Jr., would have been appalled at Rep. Davis’ bigotry.
You can view a transcript of the exchange between Davis and Sherman here. UPDATE (April,10, 2008) Monique Davis is named Worst Person in The World on YouTube.
Further update: (April 17,2008): Davis has now apologised to Sherman. See details at The Friendly Atheist.
The Freethinker was founded in 1881 by GW Foote, an outspoken critic of religion. After the publication of 
April 8th, 2008 at 9:17 am
> Now that Negroes like Representative >Monique Davis have political power, it >seems that they have no problem at all >with discrimination, just as long as >it isn’t them who are being >discriminated against.
Whenever you see a lot of people protesting some injustice, only a few want to remedy the injustice. The majority want to invert it.
April 9th, 2008 at 9:59 am
If giving a million dollars to a Baptist church won’t put kids in danger it’s hard to think what would!
Let’s hope some of them sue the politicians for millions in a few years time.
April 11th, 2008 at 5:48 pm
This is pretty shocking. Atheists and agnostics need to follow the excellent and admirable job that the LBGT community did in coming out of the closet and demanding respect. Currently, atheists are the least respected group in the U.S.
It’s appalling.
I would love to see the day when we have a major parade in New York City for “A Day of Reason” or some other catchy slogan.
April 13th, 2008 at 4:31 am
This is an example of how people who should know better often don’t and are hateful bigots.
April 17th, 2008 at 12:48 pm
>Whenever you see a lot of people protesting some injustice, only a few want to remedy the injustice. The majority want to invert it.
That’s a really nice statement.
All atheists should definitely come out of the closet not only in the USA, but in the whole world.
Signed: an european atheist
December 21st, 2008 at 4:04 pm
Monique Davis is an insult to the countless freethinkers (atheist, deist, agnostics) who bravely fought for women’s rights and the abolishment of slavery. If they hadn’t criticized religion and the priesthood, she’d still be in chains.
Her vile rant shows she isn’t fit for office.