OLYMPIA, Wash. - An estimated crowd of several hundred people or more flocked to the state Capitol for a Sunday protest against a holiday display that disparages religion and claims there is no God.

The display - a "winter solstice" sign sponsored by the atheistic Freedom from Religion Foundation - calls religion "myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds."

State officials had allowed the anti-religion placard to be displayed during the holidays at the Capitol, along with a Christian nativity scene and a decorated Christmas tree, in response to a lawsuit filed over seasonal religious displays on state property.

In the days since it was posted, the sign has sparked a national firestorm of protest in the midst of the holiday season.

And an organizer of Sunday's rally says outrage over that display just keeps growing.

"It wasn't just a statement of atheist sentiment that there was no God," says rally organizer Steve Wilson. "It went on to say that religion hardens hearts and enslaves their minds, which is actually an insult of people of religious faith."

He says the sign is offensive to people of all faiths.

Hundreds of people showed up for Sunday's rally, which kicked off at 2 p.m. and is expected to continue until 4 p.m. The Washington State Patrol put extra troopers on duty for the expected crowds.

Speakers said the sign went beyond merely questioning or denying religion with its caustic references to enslavement.

Wilson said he wants the rally to be pro-faith, not anti-atheist. He says the outrage over this sign has already done enough to dampen the holiday spirit.

Three counter-protesters stood at the side, holding up signs that said "Get Over It."

State officials earlier said the anti-religion sign was allowed at the Capitol because of a "free speech" ruling saying that states can't show preference for one religion over another, or for pro-religious vs. anti-religious displays on state property.

Gov. Chris Gregoire, a Democrat, and Republican Attorney General Rob McKenna put out a joint statement Wednesday noting that a federal lawsuit led the state to create a policy allowing groups to sponsor a display "regardless of that individual's or group's views."

"The U.S. Supreme Court has been consistent and clear that, under the Constitution's First Amendment, once government admits one religious display or viewpoint onto public property, it may not discriminate against the content of other displays, including the viewpoints of nonbelievers," the statement said.

That reasoning resonates with some visitors at the state Capitol.

"We like the nativity, but we think everybody should have a chance to be heard," said one recent visitor.

But others said the anti-religion sign amounts to "hate speech." And some say it is giving Washington state a bad reputation.

"And our state down here in the state of Washington - we're becoming the armpit of America," says the Rev. Ken Hutcherson of Kirkland, who spoke out all week against the atheist message.

But no one brought the issue more attention than conservative Fox News TV commentator Bill O'Reilly, who told people across America to call and complain to the governor.

Thousands did.

Then on Friday, someone stole the sign, and it ended up at a Seattle radio station.

It's back at the Capitol now.

Wilson says he agrees that atheists have a right to express their views, too.

But he said their sign at the Capitol sends the wrong message - and his rally aims to set the record straight.

"You can put a display of Darwin up or the 'big bang theory' or winter solstice, and that's not offensive," he said.