The addition of "in God we trust" to the pledge of allegiance happened in 1956. This addition came into play because of the threat of "non-religious communist agendas trying to destroy religion."
This country was born from a group of people who did not believe in a government that governed religion. Our freedom to and from religion is what has always made the United States a more tolerant place. By having this religious phrase on our currency and in our pledge the United States stands with religions that believe in God. Non-religious and followers of non-God religions are put on a lower pedestal than the followers of God.
This petition is an effort to convince congress to reverse the law that says "in God we trust" thus bringing the United States to a place of truer equality.