Action Alert! Prayer Protest, North Richland Hills, Texas!
Rally Against Government Prayer in Texas!
September 23, 2009
FFRF wrote a letter of complaint to the Mayor and City Council of North Richland Hills, Texas, over its use of Christian prayer at meetings. Now an FFRF member, who also made transcriptions of NRH City Council prayers, and some area groups are organizing a "Just Say NO To Prayer" rally for Monday, September 28, from 6–7:05 pm. FFRF is asking for your help to write and call the Mayor and City Council, and, if you live in the area, attend this pro-secular educational rally to show that there is support for the Foundation's complaint and the constitutional principle of separation between state and church.
The rally takes place at:
Monday, September 28, 6–7:05 pm
City Hall
7301 N.E. Loop 820
North Richland Hills TX 76180
Prayers before government meetings are unnecessary. Council members may pray privately or at their church of choice, but there is no need to invoke divine guidance over sewers or liquor licenses! FFRF often points out that believers might heed the advice of Jesus, in the Sermon on the Mount, who advised believers to pray in their closet in secret, lest they be considered hypocrites (Matt. 6:5-6). The prayerful practice at Council meetings runs afoul of the First Amendment to the United States Constitution because it impermissibly advances Christianity. It leads a reasonable observer to believe that the Council is endorsing not only religion over nonreligion but also Christianity over other faiths.
Other members of FFRF will be there. If possible, bring a placard or picket sign to carry. Signs should state a clear message such as "Honor the First Amendment and Matt. 6:5-6—Stop Government Prayer," and "Separate Church and State!" If you wish to attend or have other questions, contact Bonnie at bgutsch@ffrf.org. Please also take photos (high resolution digital) so Freethought Today can document this activism. Thank you!
Contact
Note: Please concentrate on one or two major points, and, for maximum effectiveness, write as an individual, not as someone responding to this action alert. (Do not forward our action alert message to the target!) We are pleased to receive "blind" duplicates of your letters or responses by email: bgutsch@ffrf.org.
Mayor Oscar Trevino
7301 NE Loop 820
North Richland Hills TX 76180
Phone: 817-427-6070
Fax: 817-4217-6016
E-mail: nrhoscar@sbcglobal.net
Media Contacts
Fort Worth Star-Telegram
P.O. Box 1870
Fort Worth TX 76101
Fax: 817-390-7599
letters@star-telegram.com
E-mail Form
Dallas Morning News
Letters From Readers
Box 655237
Dallas TX 75265
Fax: 972-263-0456
E-mail Form
For More Information
Read FFRF'S letter to the North Richland Hills Mayor and City Council
Read FFRF's news release
Read coverage from CBS 11 TV (Dallas/Fort Worth)
Action Alert by Bonnie Gutsch