Parents Sue NJ School District for 'Under God' Pledge

A New Jersey family is suing a school district, saying the phrase "under God" in the Pledge of Allegiance discriminates against atheist children.

The American Humanist Association says the phrase "marginalizes atheist and humanist kids as something less than ideal patriots."

David Niose, an attorney for the American Humanist Association's Appignani Humanist Legal Center, said public schools should disallow an exercise that "teaches students that patriotism is tied to a belief in God."

"Such a daily exercise portrays atheist and humanist children as second-class citizens, and certainly contributes to anti-atheist prejudices," Niose said in a statement.

The plantiffs also say "under God" violates the New Jersey constitution.

Meanwhile, school district lawyer David Rubin said the school is just following a state law that requires schools to recite the pledge daily.

"We are disappointed that this national organization has targeted Matawan-Aberdeen for merely obeying the law as it stands," Rubin said in a written statement.

He says individual students don't have to take part.