A group of atheists argued Thursday that the so-called World Trade Center cross has no place in the National September 11 Museum.
American Atheists attorney Edwin Kagan argued before the 2nd U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals that the steel crossed beams have no place on government-owned land, CBS New York reported. The Port Authority of New York and New Jersey owns the land where the memorial site is located.
Kagan also called the cross a religious symbol that only offers one story of those who suffered in the 2001 terror attacks. If the cross isn’t removed, the atheists want a plaque on the site stating “Atheists died here, too.”
Judge Reena Raggi said the artifact was just like any other religious artifact on display in other museums and asked Kagan if the group’s goal was to censure history, according to CBS New York.
The 17-foot-tall T-beam was originally located in Tower 6 and was blessed by Father Brian Jordan, who served as ground zero chaplain. The museum is slated to open in May.
