The Freedom From Religion Foundation’s Metropolitan Chicago Chapter has put up annual Winter Solstice exhibits throughout the Chicago area to spread its freethinking message.
Featured in Chicago’s Daley Center Plaza is the Bill of Rights banner, reading: “Joy to the world — The Bill of Rights is Born. During this festive season, let us celebrate reason, not superstition. Happy Bill of Rights Day, and Merry Winter Solstice.” The display will be available for viewing until Dec. 26. Pictured from left to right, the set-up crew was composed of Chapter Director Steve Foulkes and Board Members Bob Hunter and Shane Stapley.
For the 12th year in a row, the Bill of Rights “nativity” display is up for public viewing at the North School Park in Arlington Heights. The cutout shows three Founders and Lady Liberty gazing in adoration at a “baby” Bill of Rights in a manger. It is pictured with Chapter Members Kathi Wise and Fred Dix, who did the set-up. The exhibit went up on Dec. 1 and will be on display until New Year’s Eve.
Returning for the third year in Glenview Village Hall, FFRF’s exhibit features a Richard Dawkins-inspired lighted “A” for atheist and agnosticism, as well as a banner stating: “Celebrate the true reason for the season. Merry Winter Solstice & reason’s greetings.” This display will be up from Dec. 10 to Dec. 27. Pictured from left to right are Bob Hunter and Shane Stapley, Steve Foulkes is not pictured but helped with display set-up.
Dedicated chapter members of the state/church watchdog put together the installations to act as a counter to ubiquitous Christian nativity displays on public land. The Freedom From Religion Foundation is proud to present a freethinking presence during the Winter Solstice season, especially when December is overpopulated with religious messages.
“We’re delighted to have a freethinking presence in these parks,” says FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. “Religious displays can’t be allowed to monopolize the public space. As we always say, if a governmental body creates a public forum for religion, there must be room at the inn for dissenting viewpoints.”
FFRF expresses its appreciation to members in the Chicago area for making these displays possible.
The Freedom From Religion Foundation is the largest national association of freethinkers (atheists and agnostics) with 40,000 members and several chapters all over the country, including more than 1,200 members and the Chicago chapter in the state of Illinois. The organization works to protect the constitutional separation between religion and government. FFRF thanks the volunteers who placed these signs and got the permits, including Chapter Director Tom Cara, Kathi Wise, Fred Dix, Bob Hunter and Shane Stapley, and FFRF graphic artists Roger Daleiden and Jake Swenson for banner designs.
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