The Texas Constitution

"Article 1 - BILL OF RIGHTS
Section 4 - RELIGIOUS TESTS
No religious test shall ever be required as a qualification to any office,
or public trust, in this State; nor shall any one be excluded from holding
office on account of his religious sentiments, provided he acknowledge the
existence of a Supreme Being."

TEXAS STATE DIRECTOR

Joe Zamecki
(512)462-0572
jzamecki@atheists.org
Located in South Austin, Texas

Examples of my recent work in the Atheist community, and my activism here in Texas can be found here: www.atheist-community.org/library/newsletters

BIO

Joe Zamecki is an ex-Catholic turned Atheist since 1983, who has lived most of his life in Texas. He served three years in the Texas National Guard as an MP, and studied psychology at Austin Community College. He's an Austin musician with over a dozen years experience playing in blues bands, rock bands, country-rock bands, and a cover-band. He also does volunteer cleanup work in his neighborhood, in conjunction with the Austin Code Enforcement Department, which has resulted in several city-inspired property cleanups.

Joe worked for American Atheists for eight years, starting in Austin and then in New Jersey, then went on to serve on the board of directors of the Atheist Community of Austin and became editor of its newsletter, Atheist Community News. In 2005, Joe was awarded the American Atheists Meritorious Service Award at the American Atheists National Convention in Philadelphiam and in 2008 he was awarded the 2008 State Director of the Year Award at the American Atheists National Convention in Minneapolis. Joe has been a Life Member of American Atheists since July 4th, 1997. He now serves as Texas State Director for American Atheists, in just the right city, Austin.

Joe has also been interviewed and quoted in the media several times. His words have appeared in the London Telegraph, the Columbia News Service, the Chicago Daily Herald, the Cybercast News Service, CNN, Newsmax.com, The Daily Texan, KLRU PBS 9 Austin, KTRH 740 News Radio Houston, WOAI Radio in San Antonio, Humanist Network News, the Pflugerville Pflag, and the Tower News at Kean University. He's appeared on the Ananda Lewis Show, the Infidelguy Radio Show, New Jersey News12, and of course the Atheist Viewpoint and the Atheist Experience. Joe is also listed in the book "Who's Who in Hell."

An Atheist couple whose children attend a Carrollton-Farmers Branch elementary school have filed a complaint in federal district court arguing that the state's mandated moment of silence in public schools is unconstitutional. On 2006 March 10th, David Wallace Croft, a Texas parent of a public school student filed a petition to have the mandatory moment of silence law in the Texas state education code ruled unconstitutional. Here is his website: www.croftpress.com/david/politics/moment/

and his blog: david-wallace-croft.blogspot.com/.

There's a proud Atheist family, and they need Atheist support. Please tell a friend about this very important lawsuit happening now.

In 2007, our Texas Legislature pumped out several state laws respecting an establishment of religion, and it was quite overwhelming! You can read up on those in this article in the Dallas Morning News: http://tinyurl.com/29tbyo

Recently I was interviewed for a news article from England: Atheists go on the political offensive in God-fearing US.

This is an edited excerpt from a talk given by Madalyn Murray-O'Hair entitled "Why I Am An Atheist." I hope the next generation of Atheists in America becomes familiar with our Atheist heroes and heroines. This is one way, by listening to those people in their own words, in their own voice.

Link to audio at KPFA.org.

Additional audio of Madalyn Murray O'Hair (debate against Rev. Walter Martin.)

Atheist Nation! A video sharing site with a chat room, and lots of exposure potential for Atheists and their videos. www.atheistnation.net.

National Day of Prayer Demonstrations

Here are some pics of other NDOP protests I've organized in New Jersey and Austin.

This is from the 2007 NDOP protest in Austin.

This is me at the 2003 NDOP protest in Woodbridge, New Jersey. I was adjusting my camcorder while an NDOP participant was trying to keep my Atheist buddy with the still camera from seeing the message on
OUR picket sign. lol!

These are from the 2004 NDOP protest in Somerville, NJ.

This is from the 2005 NDOP protest in Austin.

This is from the 2006 NDOP protest in Austin.

SR 141 "In God We Trust" in Legislative Chamber Passed, done. Finalized Senate Version in the Senate Journal, January 30, 2007, (Notice the prayer at the beginning of the session.):

Link to Senate Journal, Jan 30, 2007

The author of this resolution was Sen. Dan Patrick from Houston, and his Austin office number is (512) 463-0107 Please take a moment to place a friendly call to his office to remind him that not all taxpaying Americans trust in gods, and that it's not fair that a phrase like that can be displayed in big gold letters in that chamber, if no one is going to bother to produce any gods, especially not that one.

H B 1034 "Under God" add to Texas Pledge of Allegiance. Text of
the bill:

HB 1034

HB 1034 is now Texas State Law. The original author of this law was Rep. Debbie Riddle, R - Tomball, and her office number is (512)463-0572. Even though it's passed, I think we need to remind Rep. Riddle, and any other supporter of religious laws like this one, that we oppose schemes like this one, and any other attempt to force religion on public schools, and any other group that is compelled to hear it. Since there was no pressing need for religion in the Texas State Pledge, this law is only meant to advance and promote organized religion by the government. My advice to public school students, and anyone else who doesn't want religion pushed on them, is to either say the Pledge correctly and loudly so everyone can hear, or mount some kind of protest over it. I certainly would, but I've been out of public school for a long time, and I don't know where I would hear it other than there. Regardless, everyone should be free to avoid religion in word, deed, and implication. State legislators need to realize and respect our state's diversity.

H B 3678 "Religious Expression" in public schools -- Passed, now state law -- Text of the bill:

HB 3678

H B 1287 "Bible Classes" in public schools -- Passed, now state law -- House Committee Report Version of the bill:

HB 1297

H B 18 "Voucher Pilot Program" -- Died before committee -- Text of the bill:

HB 18

H B 289 "Faith-Based Initiatives" expansion plan -- Died in session in May -- House Committee Report Version of the bill:

HB 289

H B 167 "Protection of Bibles from govt. seizure" -- Passed, now state law. Apparently there was no debate before the voting on this bill. -- Engrossed version of the bill:

HB 167

Here is the pdf version of the Texas Governor's National Day of Prayer Proclamation, which was signed by the governor in December of last year:

Governor's Proclamation (PDF)