The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s iconic TV spot featuring Ron Reagan, the self-avowed “unabashed atheist . . . not afraid of burning in hell,” will air over the next two weeks on Comedy Central’s “The Daily Show with Trevor Noah.”
The 30-second commercial will run once per show starting Monday, Sept. 9 through Thursday, Sept. 12, and from Monday, Sept. 16 through Thursday, Sept. 19. The half-hour news comedy show broadcasts at 11 p.m. Eastern.
In the spot, Reagan, the progressive son of President Ronald and Nancy Reagan, says:
Hi, I’m Ron Reagan, an unabashed atheist, and I’m alarmed by the intrusion of religion into our secular government. That’s why I’m asking you to support the Freedom From Religion Foundation, the nation’s largest and most effective association of atheists and agnostics, working to keep state and church separate, just like our Founding Fathers intended. Please support the Freedom From Religion Foundation. Ron Reagan, lifelong atheist, not afraid of burning in hell.
“The American public needs to become aware of how many well-known individuals — who are moving our society forward — are freethinkers and atheists. It’s so important to hear a strong endorsement of the besieged principle of separation between religion and government over mass media,” says Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president and co-founder.
FFRF’s ad has been refused by CBS, NBC, ABC and Discovery Science. FFRF previously has been able to place it on some regional network markets, as well as on CNN and MSNBC.
Reagan has publicly identified himself for years as an atheist.
“We are so grateful to Ron for being willing to publicly identify as an ‘unabashed atheist’ and as a supporter of FFRF,” adds Gaylor. The national ads are run as funds permit. Donors who’d like to support this public relations campaign may designate gifts to FFRF’s advertising fund.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is the nation’s largest association of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics), with more than 30,000 members. It works as a state/church separation watchdog.
