"Let's Call the Whole Thing Off," aka the anti-National Day of Prayer rally, kicks off at noon Thursday, May 6, at the State Street entrance to the Wisconsin Capitol. Organized by the Madison, Wis.-based Freedom From Religion Foundation, the event aims to educate the public about the federal court ruling that the National Day of Prayer is unconstitutional.
Thursday is also the day that FFRF's new series of freethought ads will start running on buses in Madison. The ad campaign's theme is "America is not a Christian nation." Signs on bus interiors and exteriors display seven different messages that highlight America's secular heritage.
Speakers at the rally, which will last about an hour, include Matt Rothschild, editor of The Progressive magazine; James Coors, UW-Madison professor emeritus in the Department of Agronomy; FFRF Co-Presidents Annie Laurie Gaylor and Dan Barker, along with FFRF staffers.
Barker will perform some of his irreverent songs like "Nothing Fails Like Prayer" and "Battle of Church and State." Needless to say, there will be no moment of silence, but the group promises a tongue-in-cheek "moment of bedlam" instead — and lots of applause for Judge Barbara Crabb's April 15 ruling upholding separation of state and church.
The public is invited to attend and bring colorful signs and an irreverent attitude. And don't forget to keep an eye out as the buses roll by to give momentum to a move back to the secularism this nation was founded on.
