In the city where American democracy was first debated — and written into law — we reaffirmed that the real founding promise of a pluralistic, secular democracy belongs to ALL of us.
This past weekend, in the city where American democracy was first debated — and written into law — we pushed back.
At the Arch Street Meeting House in Philadelphia, we brought together advocates, historians, scholars, and faith and community leaders to tell the real story of America’s founding. The real history that was written 250 years ago and is still being written today.
This wasn’t the White Christian Nationalist narrative — full of distortions, omissions, and outright lies — being promoted by the White House and paid for with your tax dollars. No. This was the real story. Imperfect, flawed, and still a work in progress.
And one message was clear: we are the architects of what we build for the next 250 years. Stand with us as we do that work today.
The stakes couldn’t be higher. Just nine days after the inauguration, President Trump signed an order to take over planning of America’s 250th anniversary. We’re seeing the results. A prayer rally on the National Mall with nearly 40 speakers — exactly one of whom wasn’t a Christian. A massive arch with “In God We Trust” emblazoned on its face.
Statement after statement about who this administration — and its White Christian Nationalist backers — thinks counts as a real American.
We’re here to say: everyone counts. And there is nothing more un-American than the White Christian Nationalist Agenda.
There is some good news. Their deeply unpopular agenda is failing. The taxpayer and corporate backed religious revival on the Mall barely drew a few thousand people.
When the American people actually see the exclusionary, divisive ideology, they reject it. The history is on our side. American values are on our side.
But this resistance doesn’t organize itself. The White Christian Nationalist movement has been building toward this moment for more than 50 years. Winning requires showing up — in courtrooms, in statehouses, in classrooms, and in community spaces like the one we filled this past weekend.
That work depends on your support.
The promise of a pluralistic, secular democracy — the real founding promise — belongs to all of us. Christians and Jews, Hindus and Sikhs, Muslims and Buddhists, atheists and agnostics. All of us. We will not let them write us out of our own history or hijack our future.
In solidarity,
Nick Fish
President
PS: We’re partnering with Atheists United and the Pacific Unitarian Church for another event commemorating the 250th Anniversary of the United States on June 20th. Tickets are selling fast and space is limited, so I hope you’ll join us!
White Christian Nationalists like to say there are no atheists in foxholes, but they’re wrong. I am one: a proud atheist and U.S. combat veteran.
History has taught us again and again what happens when people decide intolerance is acceptable or even righteous because “God hates certain things.”
The 2026 state legislative session was the most productive year in American Atheists’ 63-year history. In some states, we saw 100% success rates.
