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March 2019 Getting the Message out It’S Over! Chino Valley Case Finally Ends with Victory for FFRF

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March 2019 Getting the Message out It’S Over! Chino Valley Case Finally Ends with Victory for FFRF Escaping from A convention In Bangladesh, dangerous conversation with the fear for LGBTQ, oppression Cecile Richards atheists is real PAGE 13 PAGE 14-16 PAGE 18-19 Vol. 36 No. 2 Published by the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Inc. March 2019 Getting the message out It’s over! Chino Valley case finally ends with victory for FFRF This 20-by-60-foot billboard was seen by travelers on the Kennedy Expressway (Interstate 90-94) and Constitution west of Montrose near Chicago during February. See page 12 for the story about FFRF’s ad campaign The praying, proselytizing and bible-reading school in Chicago and a column by the campaign’s underwriter, a victim of clergy sexual abuse as a teen. board in Chino Valley (Calif.) voted to respect the First Amendment and minority rights by not appealing a ma- jor Freedom From Religion Foundation victory to the U.S. Supreme Court. FFRF, with 22 local parents, students and employ- FFRF’s Strategic Response ees of the Chino Valley School District, triumphed in July before the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals (the largest in the country) against prayer at Chino Valley Team is getting it done School Board meetings. These meetings, which re- sembled church revivals more than public gatherings, opened with prayer and regularly included board mem- By Andrew L. Seidel bers reading from the bible and proselytizing. “The board’s prayer policy and practice violate the Establish- he Strategic Response ment Clause,” a three-judge panel of the 9th Circuit Team. Sure, it’s a cool had ruled unanimously. The appeals court reaffirmed Tname, but what does it ac- FFRF’s victory in December by denying a petition by the tually do? The team is part of school board to rehear the case. FFRF’s legal squad. We are Jacks On Jan. 17, the Chino Valley School Board voted and Jills of all trades, tasked with: 3-2 not to further appeal the case to the U.S. Supreme 1. Lobbying, tracking, analyz- Court. FFRF welcomes the new board’s display of good ing and educating about pend- sense. (The composition of the board changed follow- ing legislation. ing the November elections.) 2. Shaping public opinion “We’re so pleased reason and our Constitution have with articles, editorials and let- prevailed in protecting the rights of students and par- ters to the editor. ents to be free from proselytizing by their school board,” 3. Drafting statements, press says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “The fact releases, action alerts and articles that we had so many members of the community with us for FFRF. shows how the school board was riding roughshod over 4. Working to stop imminent the rights of students.” state/church violations. The display of sectarian religiosity at board meetings FFRF launched the Strategic was brazen. Then-Board President James Na injected Response Team after its 2017 na- Freedom From Religion Foundation Christianity into many of his official statements to par- tional convention when the some- This map shows states where displaying the phrase “In God We Trust” ents and students at meetings. For instance, at one such what informal “rapid response” in public schools has been written into law or is proposed to be. See Chino Valley on page 2 crew was formally reorganized. Our inaugural year was a success. Dakota). ing the Johnson Amendment Here are some highlights: On the from sustained assault, an attack Camp Quest smiles We tracked 115 bills, more bright side, that continues this year. than 80 percent of which were much of the Another important victory negative in regard to state- legislation we was convincing the Florida Con- church separation. Most notably, opposed last stitutional Committee to retain we opposed bills pushed by “Proj- year failed. the state’s No Aid Clause, which ect Blitz,” a scheme aimed at cod- For instance, prohibits taxpayer funds from ifying Christian nationalism into we opposed flowing to churches. A huge win, state statutes that features a wide a bill in West if not racy. variety of bad bills, including Photo: Chris Line Virginia re- We couldn’t have done that displaying “In God We Trust” in Andrew L. Seidel quiring all without your help. The Strategic public schools. By mid-year, eight schools, in- Response Team works to mobi- states had laws about posting “In cluding elementary schools, to lize FFRF members, and since the God We Trust” in public schools, teach bible classes, and we op- last convention, you have made some adopted several years ago. posed a bill in Mississippi forcing 29,672 connections with legis- This year, we’re already track- public school teachers to recite lators on the 109 action alerts Playing a crucial role in the development of a new ing similar bills in another nine the Ten Commandments in class. we sent out. That total number generation of secular youths, Camp Quest inspires states (Arizona, Illinois, Indiana, Neither of those bills advanced. of connections is actually much them to live life well and fully, guided by empathy Kentucky, Missouri, Nebraska, Perhaps our biggest legislative and critical thinking. See story on page 20. New York, South Carolina, South victory was successfully defend- See Team on page 5 Page 2 FFRF | FREETHOUGHT TODAY | Madison, Wisconsin | March 2019 From ‘Family Guy’ to passionate freethinker Name: David Williamson. who have the courage to come from a Where I live: Orlando, Fla., since minority position and speak out about 2012. what matters to them. I also have great Where and when I was born: respect for people who are in a majority Pensacola, Fla., in 1971. and who take the time to understand Family: In 2013, I married my the impacts their privilege has on partner in activism, Jocelyn Williamson. others. I think we should all strive to be Together we are raising her 15-year old those types of people whenever we can. son and I have a 26-year-old son in the A quotation I like: “Freedom begins Coast Guard. with freethinkers.” — Anne Nicol Education: My childhood was spent Gaylor, FFRF co-founder. in many places, but I finished high These are a few of my favorite things: school in Spartanburg, S.C. I have an Modestly priced dark chocolate, heated associate in science degree in golf course discussion among family and friends, management from Florida Gateway kicking pastors out of public schools, College and a bachelor’s degree in and Oxford commas. occupational safety and health from FFRF Member David Williamson (right), co-president of the Central Florida These are not: People who care about Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University. Freethinkers Community, and Danny de Armas, senior pastor at First Baptist what happens in our world but do not Military service: I served four years Orlando, discussed the commonalities in their approach toward religion and get involved to change it frustrate me as in the Navy. government during a video segment on the Orlando Sentinel’s website in much as eating my vegetables. Occupation: After college, I worked reaction to the annual National Religious Freedom Day on Jan. 16. My doubts about religion started: as a golf course superintendent and I have no memory of a god-belief — about 10 years ago I moved into organizations and individuals who share How I got where I am today: A 2008 thank God. occupational safety. our goals. Even if we don’t agree with episode of the “Family Guy” was how I Before I die: I hope to see a majority Tell us about your FFRF chapter: everyone on everything, we can work first heard about Richard Dawkins’ The of Americans regain an understanding Jocelyn and I founded the Central together where our values align. Today God Delusion. It had a profound effect on and appreciation of the secularism Florida Freethought Community in we have a thriving me and helped me which pre-dated the rise of the 2012 out of a passion for keeping organization that MEET A MEMBER realize the value “Religious Right.” religion out of government. We found serves the Orlando of clear thinking Ways I promote freethought: Along the best way to do activism is to build area locally and the state of Florida in and the harm that religious dogma has with community development and being a community of like-minded people other ways. visited upon civilization. That created open about my atheism, I am creating and to form relationships with allied We have nearly 1,000 Meetup a path for me into freethought where personal relationships with local clergy members, 1,700 email subscribers, and I found a desire to be part of fostering so we can resolve and prevent issues 2,891 Facebook fans. There is a monthly communities for people who want to of religion in government together. speaker series, regular social events, be free from the question, “So, what An organization I have recently been occasional secular invocations, and the church do you attend?” asked to join is the Central Florida annual Freethought Cruise, where a Where I’m headed: My aim is to Commission on Religious Freedom national-level speaker is brought in for ensure Orlando always has an active (real religious freedom). We host an a weekend or a week-long getaway. freethought community. With a annual summit open to the public and We have worked with FFRF on short supply of people interested in smaller discussions during the year two lawsuits: literature distribution in leadership, I and the rest of our board where religious leaders get together to Orange County Public Schools and members need to work on identifying discuss how religious freedom affects secular invocations at Brevard County and empowering fans and followers our various communities.
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