You are invited to a celebration of the life and legacy of Thomas Paine on Tuesday, June 8, via Zoom, an event co-sponsored by the Freedom From Religion Foundation.

Click here to register for this event. 

The program will include an introductory statement by Rep. Jamie Raskin, co-chair of the Congressional Freethought Caucus and a Paine aficionado. Raskin laces his speeches (including as the presidential impeachment manager) with quotes from Paine because the words penned by this great Revolutionary War patriot remain insightful, inspirational and meaningful. On the June 8 anniversary of Paine’s death in 1809, Raskin will tell us more about why his life should and must be honored.

The program begins at 6:45 p.m. Eastern with a 15-minute Thomas Paine-themed concert by songwriter and recording artist James Klueh. Attendees are welcome to BYOB to participate in toasts throughout the event. Melissa Myers (representing Center for Inquiry) and Margaret Downey (representing the Freethought Society) are the event co-hosts.

Co-sponsoring organizations will welcome everyone to the event, including brief remarks by FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. A summary of the life and work of Thomas Paine will be presented in sections by representatives from the Freethought Society, the Thomas Paine National Historical Association, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the Center for Inquiry and the American Humanist Association:

Mandisa Thomas (AHA)
Tom Flynn (CFI)
Andrew Seidel (FFRF)
Margaret Downey (FS)
Gary Berton (TPNHA)

World-famous sculptor Zenos Frudakis will display from his studio in Philadelphia the progress of the Thomas Paine statue project, and Dan Barker, co-president of FFRF, will perform his original song based on Paine’s beloved words, “The World is My Country.” After a short break, a question-and-answer portion of the event will begin. Toasts and favorite Paine quotations are welcome.