The 2012 35th Annual National Convention took place Oct. 12-13, in Portland, Ore. Speakers included Richard Dawkins, Dr. Peter Boghossian, Julia Sweeney, Katherine Stewart, Teresa MacBain, Jerry DeWitt, annalise fonza, Jessica Ahlquist and Max Nielson. 

The Freedom From Religion Foundation sent a letter of complaint Oct. 26 to Autauga County Schools Superintendent Spence Agee in Prattville, Ala., after being contacted by a concerned district alumnus about religious banners displayed by Marbury High School cheerleaders at football games for players to run through.

"We understand that each week a different bible verse is displayed for all to observe," wrote Stephanie Schmitt, FFRF staff attorney. "You must take immediate action to stop these religious banners from being part of school-sponsored events."

FFRF, a national state-church watchdog based in Madison, Wis., has received several complaints about the practice becoming popular at other schools and recently sent letters to Kountze, Texas; Newton, Texas; Bossier Parish, La.; Stone County Schools, Miss.; and Thackerville Schools, Okla. FFRF was notified that the Stone County district ordered cheerleaders to stop making religious banners. The Kountze case has received massive media coverage and is being litigated.

Schmitt cited several relevant U.S. Supreme Court cases, including Santa Fe Indep. Sch. Dist. v. Doe, in which the court ruled the school policy allowing student prayer to be announced at football games was unconstitutional. The court reasoned that because the football game was still a school-sponsored event, the fact that a student was leading the prayer did not cure the constitutional violation.

"Like the student-initiated prayers in Santa Fe, student-initiated religious banners that the football team must run through are also inappropriate and unconstitutional," wrote Schmitt.

"Public high school events must be secular to protect the freedom of conscience of all students. Autauga County Schools must take immediate action to ensure that religious messages are not part of any school-sponsored events. These religious messages displayed at football games constitute an unconstitutional government endorsement of religion. A reasonable Marbury student would certainly perceive the banners 'as stamped with [his/]her school’s approval.'

"No student should be made to run through a religious banner. For example, a Jewish football player should not have to run through a New Testament message to play. This practice offends non-Christians and nonbelievers alike."

The Freedom From Religion Foundation received word on Oct. 24 that Henderson County, Texas, is refusing to permit it to post an “equal time” display on courthouse grounds by the large Christian nativity display dominating an entire corner. The devotional display is lit at night.

FFRF’s complaint late last year, on behalf of a local citizen, snowballed into a major controversy in Texas, with 5,000 “Christian soldiers” marching in an Athens rally, and even the attorney general chiming in. After Henderson County commissioners made public statements indicating there was a public forum, the county refused permission to FFRF or its local complainant to put up a winter solstice banner describing the freethought point of view.

The banner notes:

“At this Season of the Winter Solstice, may reason prevail. There are no gods, no devils, no angels, no heaven or hell. There is only our natural world. Religion is but myth and superstition that hardens hearts and enslaves minds.“

“We feel from the beginning that FFRF and our area membership have been given the run-around by county officials. They made us jump through hoops submitting our application, yet it was clear from the outset they had no intention of allowing any other point of view,” said Annie Laurie Gaylor, FFRF co-president.

“Henderson County is not a ‘Christian county,’ Athens is not a ‘Christian town,’ Texas is not a ‘Christian state’ and the United States is not a ‘Christian nation.’ Majority does not rule over matters of personal conscience. A county government should not be taking sides in religion, or promoting or endorsing Christianity over other religions, or religion over nonreligion,“ Gaylor added. 

“When the county hosts at its seat of government a manger scene proclaiming the legendary birth of Jesus as the messiah, it is unlawfully placing government behind Christianity, at the expense of non-Christians and nonbelievers,” she added.

Gaylor accused Henderson County of censorship.

A complaint by FFRF last month over bible-banner-toting cheerleaders at public high school games in Kountze, Texas, has kicked off another heated controversy. Attorney General Greg Abbott, who offered comfort and support to Henderson County last year, attacking FFRF by name, held a press conference with Gov. Rick Perry on Oct. 17, again singling out FFRF by name, and, said Gaylor, creating a climate of hostility toward Texas nonbelievers.

The Madison, Wis.-based national association has more than 19,000 members, including 900 in Texas.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation is urging the Internal Revenue Service to investigate an egregious case of illegal campaign activity at a church in Leakey, Texas.

FFRF has received numerous complaints about Church in the Valley's blatant attempt to dish out political propaganda over its recent church marquee. The sign told passersby: "Vote for the Mormon, not the Muslim! The capitalist, not the communist!"

As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, Church in the Valley is prohibited from taking any part in a political campaign, especially on behalf of a candidate.

"Church in the Valley appears to have inappropriately used its religious organization to intervene in a political campaign. It violated IRS regulations by expressly advocating its support for Mitt Romney in the upcoming presidential election. Given these partisan activities, Church in the Valley violated the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt rules, which prohibit electioneering," wrote FFRF Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert in an Oct. 19 letter to the IRS.

This outrageous marquee has been attracting national attention and locals seem to think the sign is anything but controversial. The editor of the town's newspaper told The San Antonio Express-News, "We're rural and we have our own set of ideas."

Today the marquee can only be found in old news stories, as it has been removed and replaced with a new message: "Liberals talk about ‘The War on Women?' Fifty percent of all aborted babies are women!"

Church in the Valley Pastor Ray Miller has told several reporters that the sign was his idea "because he feels strongly about the election."

"Even though the marquee has been removed FFRF requests that the IRS commence an immediate investigation of Church in the Valley. It is imperative that this church is held accountable for its obvious abuse of the law," added Markert.

The town of Leakey is about 90 miles from San Antonio and has a population of 425.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation has stopped a Cheektowaga Central High School teacher from pushing religion in her classroom in Cheektowaga, N.Y.

The Advanced Placement Anatomy teacher posted bible verses and a drawing of three crosses around her classroom. She also invited a guest speaker to her class who used bible verses to encourage students to “head down the right path.” FFRF Senior Staff Attorney Rebecca Markert wrote to Cheektowaga Superintendent Dennis Kane on June 7, 2012, objecting on behalf of a student.

FFRF’s student complainant reported that the teacher showed a copy of the June 7 letter to her class on the last day of school, disclaiming responsibility for her actions. The teacher also attacked the anonymous student, saying whoever had complained to FFRF lacked integrity and character and was on the same level as a student who had cheated on the class’s final exam.

Markert sent another letter to the school district outlining this egregious reprisal on June 14. In a series of replies sent on June 20, June 22, and Sept. 11, Kane informed FFRF that he took the complaint very seriously, had done an extensive investigation of the matter, and confirmed what the student described. He reported that all religious displays were removed from the classroom and that the teacher was reprimanded and directed not to discuss religion in her classroom.

The Oklahoma Water Resources Board has stopped its practice of opening its meetings with Christian prayers.

In an Aug. 1 letter, Freedom From Religion Foundation Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel warned the board to discontinue the prayers, “Time and again, federal courts overturn government-sponsored prayers that are sectarian, denominational, or invoke a particular faith or deity.”

An attorney for the board responded on Sept. 10 that “the OWRB has discontinued the invocational prayer at the beginning of its regular monthly meetings.”

The New Mexico Department of Health has stopped airing an anti-smoking television commercial containing religious messages, after receiving a Freedom From Religion Foundation complaint.

The department sponsored an ad campaign called “Dear Me” which included a commercial featuring a woman in a church pew praying, lamenting her ability to quit smoking, and performing the sign of the cross.

In a May 3 letter to FFRF, Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor urged, “It is a fundamental principle of Establishment Clause jurisprudence that the government cannot in any way promote, advance, or otherwise endorse religion. Including this imagery tends to send the message that the New Mexico Department of Health endorses the Christian religion.”

On Sept. 5, the department responded that, “The ad is no longer being placed and there is no plan to renew the license for that spot of others in the ‘Dear Me’ series at this time.”

A high school teacher at Suwannee High School in Live Oak, Fla., is no longer permitted to display religious images in his “Critical Thinking” classroom.

The Freedom From Religion Foundation received a complaint that the teacher was displaying a Ten Commandments statue on his desk as well as a poster containing a quotation exhorting readers to pray.

In an Aug. 28 letter, FFRF Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel urged, “It is unconstitutional for the school to promote a religious message to students through calls to prayer and religious iconography put on display by a school official. Their display violates the Establishment Clause of the First Amendment.”

The district superintendent responded on Aug. 31 that “religious statutes, posters, or messages” had all been removed form the classroom.

After receiving a complaint from the Freedom From Religion Foundation, Monroe High School in Alexandria, Ind., will no loner permit coaches to participate in or facilitate pre-game prayer.

In a May 23 letter to the Alexandria Community School Corporation, Staff Attorney Andrew Seidel cautioned, “federal law dictates government employees should refrain from actively participating in religious activities while acting within their governmental role to avoid any perception of government endorsement of religion . . .”

The superintendent responded on Sept. 12, assuring FFRF that the administration would instruct schools that they must comply with federal law. “The administration has undertaken measures to correct behavior by providing reference to our school policy and the case law . . . as well as your original correspondence to the building principals and athletic director.”

Prayers will no longer be broadcast over the loudspeaker at West Jones High School football games.

In a letter dated Aug. 26, 2011, Freedom From Religion Foundation Staff Attorney Stephanie Schmitt told the Jones County School District in Ellisville, Miss., these pre-game prayers were illegal: “The Supreme Court has continually struck down formal teacher or school-led prayer in public schools.”

After sending several follow up letters, FFRF learned that the pre-game prayers have been replaced by a “moment of silence.”

Thanks to a Freedom From Religion Foundation complaint, an elementary teacher in Little Rock, Ark., will no longer be permitted to proselytize her students.

The elementary school teacher in the Little Rock School District discussed her religion in class and, according to students, “referred to Jesus and God in several conversations.”

A June 21 letter from Staff Attorney Patrick Elliott warned that the teacher’s conduct violated the constitutional principle of separation between state and church. The letter cautioned, “You have an obligation under the law to make certain that ‘subsidized teachers do not inculcate religion’.”

The District responded on Sept. 13, assuring FFRF that the administration admonished the teacher that her conduct “was inappropriate and that she must follow the LRSD 5th Grade Curriculum.”

"There is no such source and cause of strife, quarrel, fights, malignant opposition, persecution, and war, and all evil in the state, as religion. Let it once enter our civil affairs, our government would soon be destroyed. Let it once enter our common schools, they would be destroyed."

- Supreme Court of Wisconsin, Weiss v. District Board, March 18, 1890

A state judge in Texas this afternoon issued a temporary injunction which will continue to create division, strife, fights and persecution. State District Judge Steven Thomas is permitting high school cheerleaders in Kountze, Texas, to continue to display biblical banners as part of football games.

In a curious bit of collusion, the school district had formally asked the court to hold “that the Establishment Clause should not be interpreted so as to require Defendants [the school] to bar the religious banners…”

The Freedom From Religion Foundation, whose complaint began the case, is not a party to the lawsuit. If contacted by those with standing to sue, FFRF is prepared to challenge the continuing violation in federal court, where this case belongs.

“We encourage any student or parent with children in the public schools coming into contact with this religious practice at public school functions to contact FFRF,” said FFRF Co-President Annie Laurie Gaylor. Plaintiffs with standing might also include school employees coming into regular contact with religious banners at school sporting events.

FFRF sent a letter of complaint to the Kountze School District in September about cheerleaders displaying giant paper banners painted with bible verses as part of the start of football games. Football players then run through the religious banners. The cheerleaders sued the school district after it asked them to stop this strange practice.

FFRF has taken complaints about the practice spreading to other school districts, and has recently sent letters of complaint to to Newton I.S.D., Texas; Bossier Parish, La.; Stone County Schools, Miss., and Thackerville Schools, Okla.

“Since the state’s top law enforcer, Attorney General Greg Abbott, and its highest executive officer, Gov. Rick Perry, have openly expressed contempt for atheists and the Establishment Clause, this leads to a climate of intolerance. It takes courage to face down the full apparatus of state government, but we need those brave few to contact FFRF,” added Dan Barker, co-president.

“Don’t let collusion, politicking, and religious fervor in Texas destroy respect for keeping public schools free of religious divisiveness,” Barker added.

Portland, Ore., was not only the setting for the Freedom From Religion Foundation's 35th national convention last weekend, attracting nearly 900 attendees, but for a bright new billboard campaign featuring 15 area freethinkers and families.

The three 14x48-foot bulletins and 12 EcoPosters (10-foot x 22.8-inch billboards) will be up around Portland for a month.

Portland-area FFRF members and families volunteered to take part in the myth-dispelling billboard campaign timed with the convention. This is FFRF's largest “This is what an atheist looks” campaign to date. The group is also debuting a new slogan: “I’m SECULAR and I VOTE.”

FFRF is a national state-church watchdog with over 19,000 members nationwide, including nearly 600 in Oregon. 

See below for a list of participants and their billboard locations.

(Note: FFRF is still waiting to receive the billboard locations for Scott Mullins and Heather Gonsior & Shawn Swagerty, so stay tuned.)

Billboard participants and locations

"This is What an Atheist Looks Like"

Anita Brown: SW 12th Av 100 ftN/O Salmon St WS F/S-1 or W Bumside St 20 ft E/O 16th Av SS F/E-2

Dr. Peter Boghossian: SW Beaverton Hillsdale Hwy 10 ft W/O 42nd Av SS F/W-1

Mark Hecate: Se McLoughlin Blvd 50 ft S/O Woodward WS F/S-2

Sonja Maglothin: SE Powell Blvd 80 ft W/O 28th Pl SS F/E-1

Renee Barnett: NW St Helens Rd 500 ft N/O 31st Av WS F/N-2

Roy and Karen Firestone: SW Salmon St 100 Ft E/O 11th Av NS F/W-1

Brent and Tyler Mangum: SE McLoughlin Blvd 10 ft N/O Bluebird St WS F/S-1

Michelle, Justin, Sylvan, and Scarlett Atterbury: SE McLoughlin Blvd 80 ft N/O 17th Av ES F/S-1

"I'm Secular and I vote"

Caroline Miller: SE 7th Av 100 ft N/O Madison St WS F/S-1

Marsha Abelman: N Victoria 10 ft N/O NE Weidler WS F/E2

Robert Paul Buchman: NW Yeon 70 ft N/O NW Front ES F/N-1

Duane Daminao: NW Gilsan St 100 ft W/O 5th Av SS F/E-1

Lenora Warren: N Interstate Av 3 ft S/O Knott St ES F/N-1

For more information on the campaign and participants view FFRF's Oct. 5 news release here.

by Dan Barker and Annie Laurie Gaylor
FFRF Co-Presidents

Texas Attorney General Greg Abbott has crossed the line from carrying out his secular constitutional duties to defend the state of Texas, to using his government bully pulpit to bully and scapegoat atheists.

At a press conference earlier today with Gov. Rick Perry at the Capitol, the grandstanding attorney general, speaking about FFRF, said:

“We will not allow atheist groups from outside of the state of Texas to come into the state, to use menacing and misleading intimidation tactics, to try to bully schools to bow down at the altar of secular beliefs.”

During the press conference, Abbott openly went after FFRF, and by extension, FFRF’s Texas membership of 700, and all atheists and nonbelievers — now estimated to comprise a fifth of the population. We’ve already heard from Texas FFRF members who have children in the schools, who are worried that their attorney general’s menacing remarks will not only escalate religious violations, but create a climate of hostility toward nonbelievers and their children in Texas.

Abbott called his pandering press conference after announcing he is intervening on behalf of Christian cheerleaders suing their school district in Kountze, Texas, aided by a zealous Christian-right group. The school had properly told the cheerleaders to nix religious banners after being contacted by FFRF, acting on behalf of a local resident who was shocked and dismayed to see bible verses used as part of a public school football ritual. The cheerleaders paint bible verses on giant paper banners, and quote such Christian verses as 1 Cor. 15:57: “But thanks be to God, which gives us Victory through our Lord Jesus Christ.”

Abbott contemptuously described FFRF as “an atheist group from Wisconsin, who came into the state of Texas and tried to silence these students.”

He bragged about his history of activism in favor of state/church entanglements, including getting involved against FFRF “last year, at Christmastime, I think it was this very same group, the Freedom From Religion Foundation, that tried to bully Henderson County in Athens, Texas, into removing a nativity scene off of the county court grounds. There’s a bottom line here, and that is . . . we are not going to either tolerate or accept these atheist groups trying to prevent that freedom of expression here in the state of Texas.”

The Constitution and FFRF are not “preventing freedom of expression,” we are defending freedom of conscience. The Constitution differentiates government (public school) speech from individual speech. Those cheerleaders are free to worship as they like, go to the church of their choice, but not to exploit a public school event, and their school-sponsored podium, to push their personal religious views on an entire stadium. That’s just plain bad manners.

Texas Gov. Rick Perry, who repeatedly referred during the press conference to Abbott as “General,” castigated FFRF and state/church proponents. He said:

“The underlying problem here is that there’s this very vocal, as you shared, and very litigious minority of Americans that are willing to legally attack anybody who dares to utter a phrase, a name that they don’t agree with.”

Perry went on to demonstrate that he apparently has never read the godless Constitution he has taken oaths to uphold, saying: “We’re also a culture built upon the concept that the original law is god’s law, outlined in the ten commandments.”

The reprehensible actions of the governor and attorney general are the very reason our founders adopted a First Amendment — to keep local majorities from tyrannizing the minorities, and government officials from using their offices to promote religion.

TAKE ACTION

Tell Perry and Abbott that they have crossed the line. Phone calls are best, so please call them today!

CONTACT

Governor Perry 
Office of the Governor
P.O. Box 12428
Austin, Texas 78711-2428

Phone: 

• Information and Referral Hotline [for Texas callers]: (800) 843-5789
• Information and Referral and Opinion Hotline [for Austin, Texas and out-of-state callers]: (512) 463-1782
• Office of the Governor Main Switchboard [office hours are 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. CST]: (512) 463-2000
• Citizen's Assistance Telecommunications Device. If you are using a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD), call 711 to reach Relay Texas

Email Contact Form: http://governor.state.tx.us/contact/

Attorney General Greg Abbott
Office of the Attorney General
PO Box 12548
Austin, TX 78711-2548
Phone: (512) 463-2100
Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Background 

Read transcript of governor’s and AG’s remarks 

Read FFRf’s original letter of complaint

Read FFRF’s amicus brief

Read previous press releases:

FFRF files amicus brief in Texas prayer banner case (Oct. 3, 2012)

Texas AG attacks FFRF, butts into banner case (Sept. 28, 2012)

Read FFRf’s original letter of complaintTexas school halts football bible banners (Sept. 19, 2012)

"You see, I do exist."