The Pennsylvania Legislature is considering a bill providing for the display of “In God We Trust” in “classrooms and other areas in public school buildings.” We need your help to ensure that a captive audience of young, impressionable students aren’t forced to view a motto that falsely equates piety with patriotism.
This bill’s first hearing, in front of the House State Government Committee, will take place tomorrow, Tues., Sept. 24. Please contact the members of the committee and urge them to vote no on this unnecessary and divisive measure. If you are able, please attend the hearing and register in opposition of the bill. The meeting is at 9:00 a.m. in Room G50 of the Irvis Office Building in Harrisburg (part of the state capitol complex, this building is located at 450 Commonwealth Avenue).
While politicians claim that these laws are intended to showcase the national motto or inspire patriotism, it’s clear from the bill’s pandering language that their true purpose is to peddle religiosity to a captive audience. The bill approvingly notes that James Pollock, the director of the U.S. Mint who suggested putting the phrase on coins, was known as “The Great Christian Governor” when he was governor of Pennsylvania. This bill is about advancing the Big Lie that the United States was “founded on God” or Christianity, and dismantling the wall of separation between religion and government. The motto “In God We Trust” is inaccurate and exclusionary, and this bill is aimed at brainwashing American schoolchildren into believing that our nation is a theocracy.
The bill, HB 1602, is part of the nationwide legislative push, Project Blitz. Project Blitz seeks to inject state legislatures with a whole host of religious bills, imposing the theocratic version of a powerful few on We The People. It is an unvarnished attack on American secularism and civil liberties — those things we cherish most about our democracy, and now must tirelessly defend.
Please click the red “Take Action!” link below and follow the prompt. Feel free to use or adapt the talking points provided.
