Reason Rally: Atheists gather to show they 'have the power to move mountains'

Atheists and other "nonreligious people" gathered at the National Mall to show that they are an influence to contend with in the coming November presidential elections.

"Godless Americans," as they called themselves, met to celebrate the 2016 Reason Rally at the steps of the Lincoln Memorial where Dr. Martin Luther King gave his "I Have a Dream" speech. The rally was said to be "the biggest gathering of nonreligious people in history."

The gathering, consisted of atheists, humanists, agnostics and the religious nones or those who do not affiliate themselves with any religion, was held to show that nonreligious people "have the power to move mountains," according to Kelly Amerow, who heads the Reason Rally. Nonreligious people wanted to show that they can be a powerful voting bloc, CBN News reported.

"This optimizes America. Atheists can gather together and celebrate what they believe and what they don't believe," Living Waters president Ray Comfort said, according to the same report. "Hindus, Muslims, Buddhists, Christians can gather. Testimony to the uniqueness of this nation, that man and woman have shed their blood so we can have this freedom."

The crowd was estimated to reach 30,000 people. However, the Reason Rally did not appear to attract politicians, as no official was present during the gathering save for two members of Congress, a council member from Washington D.C. and a candidate for congressman, Religion News reported.

The number of religious nones has increased in recent years, and so has the number of atheists, says Pew Research. According to a 2014 report, 53 percent of Americans believe it is "not necessary to believe in God to be moral." However, 45 percent of Americans still believe that faith in God is important "to have good values."

Atheists comprise seven percent of the American population, the research agency said.