Firing of David Silverman from the American Atheists organization

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David Silverman took feminist Rebecca Watson off the speakers list for the Reason Rally after Richard Dawkins objected to her speaking at the event.[1] See: Elevatorgate

In 2018, David Silverman was fired after allegations of financial conflicts and sexual assault.[2] Nick Fish, the new president of American Atheists, indicated that Silverman's termination was not over sexual assualt allegations, but as a result of a "loss of confidence" stemming from violations of internal policies on staff management, conflicts of interest, and their general code of conduct.[3] Silverman, through his lawyer, denies any wrong doing and indicates he has never had a non-consensual sexual encounter.[4] In 2019, atheists PZ Myers and Stephanie Zvan indicate that Silverman's attempts to improve his public image have failed.[5][6] In his book, Fighting God, Silverman indicates that he is a “proud feminist.” (See also: Atheism and sexism and Atheism and the Me Too Movement).[7]

After leaving two atheist organizations amid sexual harassment allegations, Silverman now calls himself a former atheist activist.[8] See: David Silverman's loss of public influence

In October 2019, he was hired to be the Executive Director of Atheist Alliance International (AAI)[9] In December 2019, the atheist blogger David G. McAfee reported that David Silverman has been suspended by AAI pending an investigation into an alleged inappropriate touching incident which allegedly occurred against the atheist woman Rebecca Vitsmun.[10] Silverman contends that he did not inappropriately touch Rebecca Vitsmun.[11]

Rebecca Vitsmun filed a restraining order against Silverman, but the judge denied her petition because the judge did not see a pattern of sexual harassment against her by Silverman.[12] Rebecca Vitsmun has filed a battery allegation with the police against atheist David Silverman and indicates he caressed her sacrum without her permission (the sacrum is the portion of the lower back that is above the tailbone).[13] On March 4, 2020, Silverman mocked Vitsum's allegation and referred to the whole affair of Vitsum's allegation of him caressing her sacrum without her permission as "#sacrumgate" on Twitter (see: David Silverman's Twitter post on 3-4-2020).[14]

David Silverman resigned his position as Executive Director of Atheist Alliance International in December of 2019.[15][16][17] See: Atheist Alliance International's hiring of David Silverman

The atheist David Smalley did an interview with Rebecca Vitsum and she gave her account of David Silverman touching her sacrum without her permission, her thoughts about the matter and her court hearing endeavoring to get a restraining order against David Silverman (see: Rebecca Vitsmun Responds).[18] The judge rejected her petition because the judge did not see a pattern of sexual harassment against her by Silverman.[19]

On December 9, 2019, in a video about David Silverman, the atheist YouTuber Cult of Dusty said the atheist community is "cringe" and he said he doesn't want to have anything to do with it anymore.[20] See also: Decline of the atheist movement

Silverman claimed that he had an open relationship with his Jewish and theist wife, but later admitted he lied about this matter and cheated on her.[21]

Silverman told atheist David Smalley in an interview that he suffers from depression and that he doubts his self-worth.[22]

On October 2, 2019, Silverman indicated the experience of being accused of sexual harrassment, being fired from the American Atheist organization and losing many of his former atheist friends caused him a "horrific level of pain" that "damaged" him and that he now has textbook symptoms of Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder.[23] In addition, he had suicidal thoughts.[24] Furthermore, he said he now takes medication and he is still a damaged person.[25]

Rebecca Vitsmun has filed a battery allegation with the police against atheist David Silverman and indicates he caressed her sacrum without her permission (the sacrum is the portion of the lower back that is above the tailbone).[26]

On March 4, 2020, Silverman mocked Vitsum's allegation and referred to the whole affair of Vitsum's allegation of him caressing her sacrum without her permission as "#sacrumgate" on Twitter (see: David Silverman's Twitter post on 3-4-2020).[27] (Click on screen capture graphic above)

Silverman appeared on the YouTube channel of Carl Benjamin, an atheist who is ant-feminist. PZ Myers indicated the video declared that "After falling victim to the #MeToo movement, ex-leader of American Atheists David Silverman had his life totally destroyed by false allegations made by feminists in the atheist movement."[28]

David Silverman now says about his firing from the American Atheists organization:

“ On April 10, 2018, I was suspended from American Atheists for very vague reasons and walked out of my office like a criminal. My 22 year career in activism with American Atheists died that day, due to lies. I was given zero due process, and the organization performed zero investigation before firing me, again like a criminal.

Mind you, not everything was a lie, and I was not some innocent flower. I am guilty of saying yes to sexually engaging with a woman after she had asked me for a job in exchange for sex and I had told her no (on the job), and playing with my board member’s wife knowing he had vetoed the interaction. These are immoral acts and I own them. I have learned a lot since these events (through years of cognitive therapy which began in 2015) and would not make these mistakes again.[29]

”

Timeline of Events in the David Silverman Firing

Silverman sues the American Atheists organization for defamation plus files lawsuits against women who accused him of sexual harassment

See also: Atheist lawsuits

Silverman has filed a defamation lawsuit against the women who accused him of sexual misconduct, BuzzFeed who reported the news story, and the American Atheists organization.[30] On December 9, 2019, David Silverman's attorney withdrew from being his lawyer in his suit against American Atheists and Silverman will be acting as his own attorney.[31]

David Silverman declares he is a former atheist activist

See also: David Silverman's loss of public influence

As can be seen above, in January of 2020, David Silverman declares he is a former atheist activist via his Twitter account.

American Atheist replacement of David Silverman. Commentary by atheist Ed Brayton

See also: Atheism and leadership and Western atheism and race

When David Silverman was replaced by Nick Fish who is also a white male, the atheist Ed Brayton wrote:

“ In the wake of the firing of David Silverman after allegations of sexual and financial misconduct, American Atheists has named Nick Fish, formerly the national program director for the group, as the new president to replace him. I find this news to be quite disappointing and it has nothing to do with Fish personally.

...I’m disappointed that they didn’t take the opportunity to appoint a woman to lead the group. Especially in the wake of Silverman’s actions that led to his downfall, I think that would have sent a very important message. More than that, it would have helped bring a perspective that is far too often ignored, dismissed and even denigrated within the broad atheist community.

We need more women in positions of leadership, and more minorities as well. We need to stop being a community led mostly by old white men like me.[32]

”

Atheist feminists/progressive atheists attempting to get Atheist Alliance International to fire David Silverman

See also: Atheist Alliance International's hiring of David Silverman and Atheism and leadership and Atheism and the Me Too Movement

According to David Silverman there were atheist feminists/progressive atheists attempting to get Atheist Alliance International (AAI) to fire David Silverman.[33] David Silverman indicated that Secular Woman and its president Monette Richards was trying to get the United Nations to revoke AAI's special consultative status with the UN in order to punish AAI for hiring Silverman.[34]

According to Silverman, the board of directors for AAI reviewed the evidence that Silverman presented maintaining his innocence of the sexual assault allegations that have been lodged against him and unamimously decided to hire him.[35]

For further details, please see:

Atheist PZ Myers on David Silverman's career in light of recent accusations of sexual harassment

See also: Atheism and leadership

PZ Myers

In a blog post entitled The secular predator problem, the atheist PZ Myers wrote on David Silverman's career in light of the recent accusations of sexual harassment against him:

“ If I were to give any advice to David, it would be to say that the path to being a good person is often counter to being an influential and powerful person. He wants the latter, but in light of his terrible assumptions and abuses, the only way forward for him is to accept some humility. He’s never going to be the bold, heroic atheist in the eyes of the people again … but then, most of us never were. We cope.[36] ”

Post sexual harassment allegations against Lawrence Krauss and David Silverman, searches for atheism related topics have dropped markedly

See also: Decline of the atheist movement and Internet atheism

Atheism and agnosticism related searches in the United States - Google trends

New Atheism is a form of militant atheism.

Lawrence Krauss is a new atheist.

On March 7, 2018, The Australian reported that Lawrence Krauss was sent on paid leave by Arizona University in wake of harassment allegations against him and that he is no longer allowed on campus.[37]

In April 2018, David Silverman, ex-president of the American Atheists organization, was fired due to allegations of financial conflicts and sexual assault.[38]

As can be seen on the rightward side of the Google trends graph, post sexual harassment allegations against Lawrence Krauss and David Silverman, searches for atheism related topics have dropped markedly in the United States.

For more information, please read the article A shambolic atheist community faces some tough choices

Atheism and agnosticism related searches in the world - Google trend data

As can be seen on the rightward side of the Google trends graph, post sexual harassment allegations against Lawrence Krauss and David Silverman, searches for atheism related topics have dropped markedly around in the world.

For more information, please read the article A shambolic atheist community faces some tough choices

David Silverman and sexual abuse allegations

Atheist Lawrence Krauss and sexual abuse allegations

See also

Notes

  1. ↑ My Time With Richard Dawkins (Or, Why You Should Never Meet Your Idols) by Sarah at Skepchick, September 5, 2013
  2. ↑ This Firebrand Atheist Was Just Fired After Allegations Of Financial Conflicts And Sexual Assault
  3. ↑ Leading atheist, accused of sexual misconduct, speaks out, Washington Post (republished article from Religion News Service) by Kimberly Winston, September 6, 2018
  4. ↑ American Atheists President David Silverman Fired After Sexual Misconduct Allegations, Christian Post, 2018
  5. ↑ David Silverman is failing Redemption 101 by PZ Myers
  6. ↑ David Silverman: Liar for the Defense by
  7. ↑ David Silverman was a “Proud Feminist”, PZ Myers
  8. ↑ David Silverman, ex-president of the American Atheists, after leaving two atheist organizations amid sexual harassment allegations, calls himself a former atheist activist
  9. ↑ David P. Silverman Appointed Executive Director
  10. ↑ David Silverman Suspended Pending Investigation Into Touching Incident
  11. ↑ Silverman / Vitsmun Hearing with commentary #Metoo FINALLY Meets Due Process #TakeBackTheLeft
  12. ↑ Silverman / Vitsmun Hearing with commentary #Metoo FINALLY Meets Due Process #TakeBackTheLeft
  13. ↑ Silverman / Vitsmun Hearing with commentary #Metoo FINALLY Meets Due Process #TakeBackTheLeft
  14. ↑ Because I have to. #sacrumgate, David Silverman on Twitter, Mar 4, 2020 - Twitter
  15. ↑ After Misconduct Allegation, David Silverman Has Left Another Atheist Group by BY Hemant Mehta
  16. ↑ David Silverman Leaves Yet Another Atheist Group After Misconduct Investigation by DAVID G. MCAFEE
  17. ↑ David Silverman is out, again by PZ Myers
  18. ↑ Rebecca Vitsmun Responds
  19. ↑ Silverman / Vitsmun Hearing with commentary #Metoo FINALLY Meets Due Process #TakeBackTheLeft
  20. ↑ David Silverman Accused Of "Creepy Touching" Again! Plus 50 Other topics! (CODcast 78)
  21. ↑ Just wives by PZ Myers
  22. ↑ David Smalley On Social Justice In Atheism, go to the 1 hour 1 minutes and 18 second mark of the video]
  23. ↑ Our Disharmony w/ David Silverman & the "Atheist Movement"
  24. ↑ Our Disharmony w/ David Silverman & the "Atheist Movement"
  25. ↑ Our Disharmony w/ David Silverman & the "Atheist Movement"
  26. ↑ Silverman / Vitsmun Hearing with commentary #Metoo FINALLY Meets Due Process #TakeBackTheLeft
  27. ↑ Because I have to. #sacrumgate, David Silverman on Twitter, Mar 4, 2020 - Twitter
  28. ↑ David Silverman was a “Proud Feminist”, PZ Myers
  29. ↑ David Silverman on the Me Too Movement within the atheist movement, David Silverman's website Firebrandforgood.com
  30. ↑ Despite Misconduct Allegations, David Silverman Is Now Running an Atheist Group BY HEMANT MEHTA
  31. ↑ Yikes, Silverman is SLAPPing some more by PZ Myers
  32. ↑ Nick Fish is New Leader of American Atheists, Ed Brayton, 2018
  33. ↑ David Silverman (Former President of American Atheist) talks to us about allegations against him.
  34. ↑ David Silverman (Former President of American Atheist) talks to us about allegations against him., Silverman starts mentioning this matter at the 51:29 point of the video
  35. ↑ David Silverman (Former President of American Atheist) talks to us about allegations against him., Silverman starts mentioning this matter at the 51:29 point of the video
  36. ↑ The secular predator problem by atheist PZ Myers
  37. ↑ Lawrence Krauss sent on paid leave by Arizona University in wake of harassment allegations, The Australian, 2018
  38. ↑ This Firebrand Atheist Was Just Fired After Allegations Of Financial Conflicts And Sexual Assault
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