This weekend, I had the honor to attend the first-ever “Reason Rally.” The event in Washington, D.C., attended by an estimated 20,000 non-theists, was our “coming out party,” as one speaker put it. Atheists, agnostics and rationalists of all genders, races and backgrounds showed up on the National Mall to say it’s OK to be nonreligious.

There is only one open atheist in Congress: Rep. Pete Stark, D-Cal. Politicians seem allergic to secularism; just acknowledging our existence in his inaugural speech drew criticism for President Obama from the religious community. Americans who describe themselves as nonreligious make up 16 percent of the population—a larger minority than Jews, African Americans or Muslims, according to Pew Forum.

I am the president of Eastern’s Society for Free Thought, the only group on campus for students without faith. We are students from various majors who happen to be atheist or agnostic. We also have a good relationship with one of the Christian RSOs on campus.

Earlier this semester, we raised more than $150 for Planned Parenthood while it was attacked nationally. On April 19, we will participate in “National Ask an Atheist Day” on the Library Quad. Aron Ra, a YouTube celebrity and the acting Texas State Director of American Atheists, will speak about the role of faith in society at 8 p.m. in the Charleston-Mattoon Room of the Martin Luther King Jr. University Union.

And last weekend, four of us caught a charter bus in Indianapolis. We spent a total of six hours in the car, 24 hours on the bus, and 12 hours in the pouring rain to attend the Reason Rally. My fellow members and I stood on the National Mall and joined American atheists in saying, “We’re here! Get used to it!”

I later described the rally as an “atheist variety show.” There was music from atheist band Bad Religion and folk singer Shelley Segal. Tim Minchin and Eddie Izzard provided comedy. Bloggers Hemant Mehta, the “Friendly Atheist,” and Greta Christina, spoke alongside authors Dan Barker and Taslima Nasrin. Youth activist Jessica Ahlquist spoke, who just won a court case in her home state of Rhode Island to have a prayer banner taken down in her public high school.

But by far the most popular speaker was Richard Dawkins, evolutionary biologist and atheist extraordinaire. He spoke despite having received three death threats. He spoke about the importance of the event, and how reason was such a simple idea.

“Who would rally against reason?” he asked. He suggested that it was frustrating that there’s a need for a rally for reason, and that anyone would want to protest logic.

But protesters there were. The infamous Westboro Baptist Church showed up to call us “fags” and to damn us to hell, but that was OK, because they refused to speak to us. The name-calling was done purely by signage.

Others were not so quiet. Christian groups showed up with signs and microphones, calling on us to repent our evil ways and to trust in Jesus for salvation. Their emotional pleas and personal testimony served to prove our point that our message isn’t based on emotion and faith—it’s based on logic and, yes, reason. They were more frustrated, I think, that we weren’t angry. We were there to participate and have a good time. The protesters were the only angry ones present Saturday.

With the Washington Monument in front of us and the Capitol Building behind, it was painfully obvious that our voices are not being heard in Washington. Greta Christina said she was upset that Rick Santorum, whose brand of politics seems bent on the destruction of secularism, is a serious contender for president. The line between church and state is becoming ever more blurred in American politics.

As 16 percent of the population, the point we’re trying to make is clear: we exist. We are your friends, your family members, and the ones serving you coffee. We are not scary people; we have a different way of looking at the world, and we deserve the same respect as you.

If you are questioning your faith, it’s OK to say so. Attend one of our meetings. I hope everyone will come ask questions April 19, and then come see Aron Ra at 8 p.m. We’re here. Come talk to us.

Sarah Bigler is a political science major.

She can be reached at 581-7942 or DENopinions@gmail.com.