Atheist Display Returning To State Capitol Campus

The state Department of General Administration confirms to KIRO-TV that an atheist group from Seattle has requested space for an outdoor display on the state Capitol campus. Officials at GA also confirm they have received another request from a group that will display a Menorah.

The displays are all being moved outside this year after holiday displays at the Capitol sparked national controversy and a theft last year.

The Seattle Atheists applied for a sign to be placed near Tivoli Fountain that would be 18 inches by 30 inches and would read: "In this holiday season let us remember that kindness and goodwill transcend belief, creed or religion," a GA representative said.

No decision will be made about the request until Monday. The state has two full working days to make a decision under rules adopted after last year's controversy.

One year ago, there was a holiday tree in the Capitol rotunda, and private groups displayed a nativity scene and Menorah. Then an atheist group put up a display declaring, "There is no God. There is no Heaven or Hell."

Conservative national television personality Bill O'Reilly urged viewers from across the country to flood Governor Gregoire's office with calls in opposition of the atheist display.

At one point, someone stole the atheist display board from inside the Capitol building. It was later dropped off at a Seattle radio station.

During the controversy and debate over holiday displays at inside the Capitol, another man who thought things had gotten absurd decided to prove his point by requesting to display a Festivus pole -- a bare aluminum pole from a fictitious holiday seen in an episode of Seinfeld.

Since last year's circus atmosphere the state has adopted new rules requiring all private holiday displays at the campus be placed outside and displays are now limited to 14 days.

There will still be what the state refers to as a "holiday tree" inside the rotunda. The big fir comes from state lands. The governor will host a tree lighting ceremony at the capitol Friday night.

Previous Stories: December 8, 2008: Man Wants To Add Festivus Pole To State Capitol December 5, 2008: Anti-Religion Sign Returned To State Capitol