Post by AuntieSocial on May 4, 2004 7:17:44 GMT -5
ATHEISTS TO MARCH INTO CAPITOL MAY 6 TO PROTEST GOVERNMENT
DENIAL OF FREE SPEECH AND EQUAL ACCESS TO OPEN FORUM
For more information contact Larry Darby at 334-270-8223.
Larry Darby, president of the Atheist Law Center, today announced plans for the Center’s Rally for Reason & Picnic on the Capitol Lawn to be held on the South Lawn of the Capitol, Thursday, May 6, beginning at 11:00 a.m., at the replica of the Liberty Bell in the center of the Avenue of Flags.
This peaceable assembly of Materialists/atheists will offer a contrast to the nearby Government-sponsored National Day of Prayer. Instead of prayer, atheists will celebrate reason as the driving force that should guide humans, including Government officials, rather than fear of offending a god. Food and drinks will be available at this more relaxed event. Scheduled speakers are:
[/li][li]Larry Darby, who will read some of the hate mail he has received from Christians in recent weeks
[/li][li]Carol Moore, who will tell of her participation in the recent abortion rights march on Washington, D.C.
[/li][li]George Sossenko, 4th generation atheist; vet. of Spanish Civil War & WW II (Free French in Algiers)
[/li][li]Gene Garman, who will instruct ex-judge Roy Moore as to the Supreme Law of the Land
[/li][li]Ken Cornelius, atheist plaintiff in lawsuit to cause Roy Moore to indemnify taxpayers for $500,000
[/li][li]Jeff Selman, plaintiff in Georgia lawsuit to remove evolution disclaimers from science textbooks
[/li][li]Ed Bucker, who will chastise Roy Moore about his “Constitution Restoration Act”
[/li][li]Ross Sloan of Mobile will be Master of Ceremonies
State GOP and Democratic headquarters have been invited to send candidates to meet and address the atheist citizens and voters, but so far, there has been no response from any candidate.
At the end of the Rally for Reason, Darby will lead the attendees on a brief tour of the Capitol, to include the old Archives chamber and the old Supreme Court Library, where the Ten Commandments are displayed.
This event has already been subject to substantial controversy because no Government official will sponsor a rainy day alternative location inside the Capitol. Sponsorship is an unwritten requirement of the Alabama Historical Commission, which oversees the use of the Capitol steps and indoor facilities. Sen. Vivian Figures is sponsoring the National Day of Prayer event on the Capitol steps and, in case of rain, use of the Capitol Auditorium. Reasons cited by officials who denied the atheists access equivalent to that granted to the Christian businesses included references to their personal religious beliefs.
Darby said, “Alabama politicians have learned nothing from the Roy Moore debacle. Religious bigotry thrives in Alabama’s Government despite the fact that taxpayers are charged with over $500,000 in legal fees because of Moore’s attempt to force his religious views on all citizens of Alabama. It is past time for Alabama voters to replace all pious politicians with men and women who understand fundamental concepts of liberty and the constitutional rule of law.”
DENIAL OF FREE SPEECH AND EQUAL ACCESS TO OPEN FORUM
For more information contact Larry Darby at 334-270-8223.
Larry Darby, president of the Atheist Law Center, today announced plans for the Center’s Rally for Reason & Picnic on the Capitol Lawn to be held on the South Lawn of the Capitol, Thursday, May 6, beginning at 11:00 a.m., at the replica of the Liberty Bell in the center of the Avenue of Flags.
This peaceable assembly of Materialists/atheists will offer a contrast to the nearby Government-sponsored National Day of Prayer. Instead of prayer, atheists will celebrate reason as the driving force that should guide humans, including Government officials, rather than fear of offending a god. Food and drinks will be available at this more relaxed event. Scheduled speakers are:
[/li][li]Larry Darby, who will read some of the hate mail he has received from Christians in recent weeks
[/li][li]Carol Moore, who will tell of her participation in the recent abortion rights march on Washington, D.C.
[/li][li]George Sossenko, 4th generation atheist; vet. of Spanish Civil War & WW II (Free French in Algiers)
[/li][li]Gene Garman, who will instruct ex-judge Roy Moore as to the Supreme Law of the Land
[/li][li]Ken Cornelius, atheist plaintiff in lawsuit to cause Roy Moore to indemnify taxpayers for $500,000
[/li][li]Jeff Selman, plaintiff in Georgia lawsuit to remove evolution disclaimers from science textbooks
[/li][li]Ed Bucker, who will chastise Roy Moore about his “Constitution Restoration Act”
[/li][li]Ross Sloan of Mobile will be Master of Ceremonies
State GOP and Democratic headquarters have been invited to send candidates to meet and address the atheist citizens and voters, but so far, there has been no response from any candidate.
At the end of the Rally for Reason, Darby will lead the attendees on a brief tour of the Capitol, to include the old Archives chamber and the old Supreme Court Library, where the Ten Commandments are displayed.
This event has already been subject to substantial controversy because no Government official will sponsor a rainy day alternative location inside the Capitol. Sponsorship is an unwritten requirement of the Alabama Historical Commission, which oversees the use of the Capitol steps and indoor facilities. Sen. Vivian Figures is sponsoring the National Day of Prayer event on the Capitol steps and, in case of rain, use of the Capitol Auditorium. Reasons cited by officials who denied the atheists access equivalent to that granted to the Christian businesses included references to their personal religious beliefs.
Darby said, “Alabama politicians have learned nothing from the Roy Moore debacle. Religious bigotry thrives in Alabama’s Government despite the fact that taxpayers are charged with over $500,000 in legal fees because of Moore’s attempt to force his religious views on all citizens of Alabama. It is past time for Alabama voters to replace all pious politicians with men and women who understand fundamental concepts of liberty and the constitutional rule of law.”
