The American Atheists have filed a lawsuit in an effort to have the World Trade Center cross removed from the National September 11 Memorial and Museum in New York City before it opens to the public.

The cross, made of two intersecting steel beams, was found standing upright after the twin towers collapsed on September 11, 2001.

"This steel remnant became a symbol of spiritual comfort for the thousands of recovery workers who toiled at ground zero, as well as for people around the world," 9/11 Memorial President Joe Daniels told reporters Saturday. "In the historical exhibition, the cross is part of our commitment to bring back the authentic physical reminders that tell the story of 9/11 in a way nothing else can."

The lawsuit filed in state court this week, names a number of defendants, including the state of New Jersey, the City of New York, New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg and New Jersey Governor Chris Christie.

A number of Atheist groups have criticized the display of the cross, saying no other religion or philosophies will be honored in the same way.

"The WTC cross has become a Christian icon. It has been blessed by so-called holy men and presented as a reminder that their god, who couldn't be bothered to stop the Muslim terrorists or prevent 3,000 people from being killed in his name, cared only enough to bestow upon us some rubble that resembles a cross. It's a truly ridiculous assertion," Dave Silverman, president of American Atheists, said in a statement.

The American Center for Law and Justice called the lawsuit flawed and without merit and plans to file a friend-of-the-court brief backing the placement of the cross.

"This is another pathetic attempt to re-write the Constitution and re-write history by removing a symbol that has deep meaning and serves as a powerful remembrance to that fateful attack nearly ten years ago," said Jay Sekulow, Chief Counsel of the ACLJ.

The cross was moved from a nearby church to its new home at the 9/11 Memorial and Museum on Saturday. The memorial will be dedicated this September, on the 10th anniversary of the 9/11 attacks, and will be open to the public starting September 12.

» The Wall Street Journal: The brewing battle over the Ground Zero cross

» CNN: Atheist group wants to stop World Trade Center cross

» Christian Post: Atheists want cross removed from 9/11 World Trade Center Museum